A Study of Species and Individual Differentiation of Burnt and Unburnt Bones Using X-Ray Fluorescence

Abstract

Commingled remains analysis is a fundamental problem in bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology. In cases of commingling, the bones of all individuals represented must be accurately and reliably differentiated. X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) can identify species and individuals when bone fragments are found in archaeological or forensic contexts. The present study aimed to verify whether portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (pXRF) can be used to differentiate bone fragments at the species level (Bos taurus, Sus domesticus, Equus caballus, and Homo sapiens) and at the individual level of human individuals. We also aimed to verify whether species and individuals can be differentiated using pXRF even if the bones were burned. A total of 119 adult human bones from archaeological sites in Central Moravia and Silesia and 17 adult non-human bones from archaeological sites in Central Moravia (Czech Republic) were examined. All bones are dated to various periods (from the Bronze Age to Modern Times). When differentiating the unburnt and burnt bones at the species level, the overall accuracy of classification was 84.6% and 93.9%, respectively. When differentiating unburnt human bones at the individual level, the correct classification ranged from 88.1% to 72.7%. The differentiation of the burnt bones of humans at the individual level achieved an average success rate of more than 60%. The results confirmed that pXRF can be used for species and individual differentiation of unburnt bones and is almost equally applicable to burnt bones.