| Ref ID: | 34376 |
|---|---|
| Ref Type: | Journal Article |
| Authors: | Evershed, Richard P. Turner-Walker, Gordon Hedges, Robert E. M. Tuross, Noreen Leyden, Ann |
| Title: | Preliminary results of the analysis of lipids in ancient bone |
| Date: | 1995 |
| Source: | Journal of Archaeological Science |
| Abstract: | Lipid extracts were prepared for a number of samples of modern and ancient bones of humans and other animals (pig, cow, horse and whale). Aliquots of the total lipid extracts were trimethylsilylated and analysed directly by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) without prior fractionation or purification. The analysis of archaeological bones and samples of adhering soil showed that contamination of the bone by migration of lipids from the burial environment was not a serious problem. Analyses of modern reference materials showed the lipid extracts of bone possessing adhering marrow fat to be dominated by acyl lipids, e.g. triacylglycerols and free fatty acids. In contrast the lipid extract of a sample of the modern cow bone with the marrow fat removed was dominated by cholesterol acyl lipids were present at low abundance. The GC and GC/MS analyses of the ancient bones of varying age and context of recovery also showed only a very low abundance of acyl lipids. Most significant was the finding of an appreciable concentration (1·546·5 Ïg g"1) of cholesterol together with its diagenetic degradation products, in all the samples that were examined. The possibility of using the cholesterol (and its degradation products) as a palaeodietary indicator is discussed. Evidence is also presented for the occurrence of bacterial marker compounds in the bone total lipid extracts. |
| Date Created: | 8/10/2001 |
| Volume: | 22 |
| Number: | 2 |
| Page Start: | 277 |
| Page End: | 290 |