The Fallibility of Bone Density Values and Their Use in Archaeological Analyses

• Autores: Yin M. Lam, Osbjorn M. Pearson
• Localización: Journal of taphonomy, ISSN 1696-0815, Vol. 2, Nº. 1-4, 2004, págs. 99-116
• Idioma: inglés
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• Dialnet Métricas: 1 Cita
• Resumen

  • As a proxy measure of resistance to destructive processes, bone density has played a central role in the discussion of equifinality and faunal representation. Bone density data sets have been derived for a diverse range of species, providing zooarchaeologists with a framework for assessing the occurrence of density-mediated destructive processes. These data sets vary tremendously in accuracy. In addition, the representation of the density of a bone portion as a single number -while convenient for quantitative analyses- obscures by oversimplification the many factors that affect the derivation of density values, a complicated process subject to multiple potential sources of variation and error. Density data sets and methods of quantitative analysis must be chosen with care, and the reasons for these choices made explicit. At the same time, it must be recognized that, despite the amount of attention that it has received, density is only one of many variables that affect the ability of a bone to restrict destruction.