Preliminary Study in Skeletal Weathering in the Southwest Llano Estacado

Summary

Skeletal weathering is rarely addressed in archaeological contexts, despite its importance to archaeology, and other fields of research. Experimental studies in taphonomy should be completed on regional scales, because changes in the microclimate will cause taphonomic agents to express differently on skeletal remains. This research quantifies and calibrates the skeletal weathering cycle for the southwest Llano Estacado region of eastern New Mexico, by placing faunal remains in full sun, shade, and partial shade. Pig metapodials were used to represent human remains, while other faunal remains were selected to simulate indigenous fauna found in the archaeological record. Specimens are documented daily, or as needed, and one sample from each species will be collected at each weathering stage, until a full cycle has been completed. DNA viability will be tested at each stage, as DNA analysis plays an important role in both archaeological and forensic research. Raman spectroscopy is used to determine the microstructure of bone at each weathering stage. Once the skeletal weathering cycle is calculated for the region, forensic specialists and archaeologists will be able to determine the post-mortem-interval, or the time-of-exposure of subaerial remains, understand the expected macro and micromorphology, as well as DNA viability for each weathering stage.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 83rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (2018)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 18720