Abstract
Radiometric, isotopic, proteomic, and genetic studies of bone collagen are mainstays of archaeometric analysis. All four techniques are destructive and require substantial laboratory, temporal, and financial commitments. Because such analyses are predicated on the presence of a sufficient quantity of unaltered proteins (i.e. collagen), the development and validation of tools for the rapid, non-destructive, in situ analysis of collagen content could yield measurable benefits. In the present work, the results of a preliminary, proof-of-concept study on the utility of four hand-held vibrational spectroscopic instruments, one Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometer and three Raman spectrometers (two with an excitation wavelength of 785nm, and one with an excitation wavelength of 1030nm), for analyzing the collagen content of archaeological bones are described. While the FTIR and 785nm Raman devices showed little or no ability to discriminate between well- and poorly-preserved bone, the application of hand-held 1030nm Raman spectroscopy appears to be well-suited for such a task. The ability to detect a measurable and characteristic spectroscopic peak associated with the δCH2 scissoring of Type I collagen in high-yielding, raw bone samples opens the door to the utilization of this technology in field research environments.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 381-389 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Journal of Archaeological Science |
| Volume | 42 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 2014 |
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Keywords
- ADNA
- Collagen
- FTIR
- Radiocarbon
- Raman spectroscopy
- Stable isotope
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- History
- Archaeology
Cite this
Ancient bone collagen assessment by hand-held vibrational spectroscopy. / Pestle, William; Ahmad, Fakhra; Vesper, Benjamin J.; Cordell, Geoffrey A.; Colvard, Michael D.
In: Journal of Archaeological Science, Vol. 42, No. 1, 02.2014, p. 381-389.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Ancient bone collagen assessment by hand-held vibrational spectroscopy
AU - Pestle, William
AU - Ahmad, Fakhra
AU - Vesper, Benjamin J.
AU - Cordell, Geoffrey A.
AU - Colvard, Michael D.
PY - 2014/2
Y1 - 2014/2
N2 - Radiometric, isotopic, proteomic, and genetic studies of bone collagen are mainstays of archaeometric analysis. All four techniques are destructive and require substantial laboratory, temporal, and financial commitments. Because such analyses are predicated on the presence of a sufficient quantity of unaltered proteins (i.e. collagen), the development and validation of tools for the rapid, non-destructive, in situ analysis of collagen content could yield measurable benefits. In the present work, the results of a preliminary, proof-of-concept study on the utility of four hand-held vibrational spectroscopic instruments, one Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometer and three Raman spectrometers (two with an excitation wavelength of 785nm, and one with an excitation wavelength of 1030nm), for analyzing the collagen content of archaeological bones are described. While the FTIR and 785nm Raman devices showed little or no ability to discriminate between well- and poorly-preserved bone, the application of hand-held 1030nm Raman spectroscopy appears to be well-suited for such a task. The ability to detect a measurable and characteristic spectroscopic peak associated with the δCH2 scissoring of Type I collagen in high-yielding, raw bone samples opens the door to the utilization of this technology in field research environments.
AB - Radiometric, isotopic, proteomic, and genetic studies of bone collagen are mainstays of archaeometric analysis. All four techniques are destructive and require substantial laboratory, temporal, and financial commitments. Because such analyses are predicated on the presence of a sufficient quantity of unaltered proteins (i.e. collagen), the development and validation of tools for the rapid, non-destructive, in situ analysis of collagen content could yield measurable benefits. In the present work, the results of a preliminary, proof-of-concept study on the utility of four hand-held vibrational spectroscopic instruments, one Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometer and three Raman spectrometers (two with an excitation wavelength of 785nm, and one with an excitation wavelength of 1030nm), for analyzing the collagen content of archaeological bones are described. While the FTIR and 785nm Raman devices showed little or no ability to discriminate between well- and poorly-preserved bone, the application of hand-held 1030nm Raman spectroscopy appears to be well-suited for such a task. The ability to detect a measurable and characteristic spectroscopic peak associated with the δCH2 scissoring of Type I collagen in high-yielding, raw bone samples opens the door to the utilization of this technology in field research environments.
KW - ADNA
KW - Collagen
KW - FTIR
KW - Radiocarbon
KW - Raman spectroscopy
KW - Stable isotope
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84890391320&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84890391320&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jas.2013.11.014
DO - 10.1016/j.jas.2013.11.014
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84890391320
VL - 42
SP - 381
EP - 389
JO - Journal of Archaeological Science
JF - Journal of Archaeological Science
SN - 0305-4403
IS - 1
ER -