Chemical trace XRF analysis to detect sharp force trauma in fresh and burned bone

Area of Science:

• Forensic Anthropology
• Materials Science
• Archaeometry

Background:

• Differentiating heat-induced fractures from sharp force trauma in skeletal remains is crucial for medico-legal investigations.
• Current methods may face limitations in distinguishing fracture etiologies, particularly in burned bone samples.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally determine if chemical traces from sharp force instruments transfer to defleshed bone.
• To investigate the persistence of these chemical traces after bone incineration at various temperatures.

Main Methods:

• Sharp force traumas were inflicted on macerated pig ribs using five distinct instruments (knives, axes).
• Instruments and bone samples (pre- and post-burning at 500°C, 700°C, 900°C, 1100°C) were analyzed using X-ray fluorescence (XRF).
• Control bone samples were included for comparison.

Main Results:

• All tested sharp force instruments successfully transferred detectable chemical traces to pre-burned bone samples.
• These chemical traces remained detectable on the bone samples even after experimental burning at high temperatures.
• X-ray fluorescence (XRF) proved effective in identifying these transferred elemental signatures.

Conclusions:

• X-ray fluorescence (XRF) shows potential as a valuable tool for identifying the etiology of fractures in both burned and unburned bones.
• The findings suggest that blade-derived chemical signatures can aid forensic anthropologists in distinguishing sharp force trauma from other fracture causes.
• Further research is needed to assess the influence of soft tissues and diagenesis on trace detection.