An experimental study of invertebrate damage to bone and its application to archaeology
Date
2022
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Abstract
The field of forensic entomology stemmed from the presence of specific insects providing crucial information with regards to the context and timing of death. More specifically, insects are largely responsible for the removal of soft tissue, along with other tissues, such as hair, nails and bone. This feeding activity has two outcomes; they may be used to acquire valuable information regarding the circumstances around death, and they may produce alterations and modification of the body which may be misconstrued as an act of violence prior to death. Additionally, insect damage on bone may take the form of discolourations, holes, scratches and tunnels which may be mistaken as intentional anthropogenic modification, or pathologies. Within the archaeological field, damage by insects upon archaeological material, specifically bone, is seldom described, as forensic entomology studies generally focus on soft tissue evidence. Here the author shows that some families of beetle are able to inflict damage on bone, contributing to the fairly limited literature and highlighting the need for more research to be done. Raw and roasted chicken and lamb bones were exposed to three species of beetle and two species of fly. Results from experiment 1 indicated that Dermestes maculatus larvae and adults produced bore holes, destruction, gnawing and surface tunnel damage on the bone samples, whereas experiment 2 showed no macro or micro indicators of dermestid beetle damage. Results from experiment 1 indicated that Anomalipus elephas and Zophobas morio larvae produced destruction damage on the bone samples, whereas experiment 2 indicated that tenebrionid beetles and larvae additionally produced destruction, gnawing and surface tunnel damage. Results from experiment 1 and 2 showed that Omorgus (Afromorgus) melancholicus and Omorgus (Afromorgus) squalidus did not macroscopically or microscopically damage the bone samples. Results from experiment 1 and 2 showed that Calliphora vomitoria did not macroscopically or microscopically damage the bone samples. Similarly, experiment 1 and 2 showed that Megaselia scalaris did not macroscopically or microscopically damage the bone samples. Bone density is described as the ratio of a bones mass to volume, with less dense skeletal elements comprising more blood, grease and marrow, making them more susceptible to gnawing and destruction than elements of a greater density. Results have shown that the epiphysis shows a higher frequency of damage markers over the diaphysis for both chicken and lamb bones.
Description
A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022
Keywords
Invertebrate Damage to Bone, Forensic entomology, Bones