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The effect of eraser sampling for proteomic analysis on Palaeolithic bone surface microtopography

Sinet-Mathiot, V., Martisius, N. L., Schulz-Kornas, E., van Casteren, A., Tsanova, T. R., Sirakov, N., Spasov, R., Welker, F., Smith, G. M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7155-5140 and Hublin, J.-J. (2021) The effect of eraser sampling for proteomic analysis on Palaeolithic bone surface microtopography. Scientific Reports, 11. 23611. ISSN 2045-2322

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To link to this item DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02823-w

Abstract/Summary

Bone surface modifications are crucial for understanding human subsistence and dietary behaviour, and can inform about the techniques employed in the production and use of bone tools. Permission to destructively sample such unique artefacts is not always granted. The recent development of non-destructive proteomic extraction techniques has provided some alternatives for the analysis of rare and culturally significant artefacts, including bone tools and personal ornaments. The Eraser Extraction Method (EEM), first developed for ZooMS analysis of parchment, has recently been applied to bone and ivory specimens. To test the potential impact of the EEM on ancient bone surfaces, we analyse six anthropogenically modified Palaeolithic bone specimens from Bacho Kiro Cave (Bulgaria) through a controlled sampling experiment using qualitative and 3D quantitative microscopy. Although the overall bone topography is generally preserved, our findings demonstrate a slight flattening of the microtopography alongside the formation of micro-striations associated with the use of the eraser for all bone specimens. Such modifications are similar to ancient use-wear traces. We therefore consider the EEM a destructive sampling approach for Palaeolithic bone surfaces. Together with low ZooMS success rates in some of the reported studies, the EEM might not be a suitable approach to taxonomically identify Pleistocene bone specimens.

Item Type:Article
Refereed:Yes
Divisions:Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science > Scientific Archaeology
Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science > Department of Archaeology
ID Code:122598
Publisher:Nature Publishing Group

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