The application of a chemical assessment of archaeological animal bone by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction

For the application of chemical assessment standards by the extent of diagenetic alteration, we investigated three archaeological animal bones and a modern animal bone using Fourier transform infraredattenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The calculating results of crystallinity index (CI), carbonate-to-phosphate (C/P) and carbonate-to-carbonate (C/C) using FTIR-ATR spectra showed differences CI and C/P according to the preservative condition of animal bones. By comparison of the crystallinity contents using XRD patterns, the states of animal bones were distinguished to the range of 30 degrees-35 degrees. As results of FTIR-ATR and XRD analysis, it is suggested that Mongolian large mammals bone presents the best preservative condition, and cattle bone from Naju site, and Haman site followed. In addition, those were correlated with the results of histological index. The results suggested that the chemical assessment standards may contribute to application of predictions of the states of animal bones discovered from Korea.