Preservation state assessment and post-mortem interval estimation of human skeletal remains using ATR-FTIR spectra

Abstract

ATR-FTIR spectroscopy provides detailed information about the physiochemical properties of the analysed material. It is used in archaeology and forensics for various purposes, including characterization of the preservation state of skeletal remains. Building on the previous research, we used an ATR-FTIR spectrometer to analyse samples from the remains at various PMIs (21st century AD – 16th century BC), deposition and storage conditions, and different skeletal elements. We used the spectra to assess the state of preservation of the remains and to test how informative the spectra are for estimating the PMI taking into account the skeletal element and the environmental conditions. The study of the spectra provided information on taphonomically induced physiochemical changes in the organic and inorganic components of the remains, which are related not only to the PMI but also to the conditions under which the remains were discovered or stored and, to a lesser extent, to the skeletal element. A clear separation between 21st and 20th century versus archaeological (≥18th century) samples was possible even in the case of significant taphonomically caused changes. In the older samples some overlaps remained because environmental factors overpowered time, nevertheless 80% of samples were placed in the correct century.

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