Output details

Regional variation in the mechanical properties of cortical bone from the porcine femur

Context

This is the first study to comprehensively evaluate the use of pig bone as a human surrogate in studies of skeletal trauma. It informs a wider research project that studies historic human remains (trophy skulls) from the Torres Strait Islands. This paper has made a significant contribution by providing a model to enable the analysis and interpretation of tool marks evident on the trophy skulls, without which, it would be impossible to determine how, and with what, the tool marks were made on the human bone (due to strict ethical considerations). Although porcine bones have been used as human surrogates in medical developments, no previous research has shown that porcine and human bones behave similarly under trauma.

Process

Primary research was gathered and undertaken by Bonney, as PhD student assigned to the project. Professor Colston developed the novel scientific concepts, led the research analysis and transference of evidence contributing to new knowledge.

Materials tests and specialist analytical procedures included:

• Bending and toughness tests using a universal testing machine

• Determination of physical properties using British Standard Methods

• Rutherford Back Scattering

• Regression Analysis

Identifying distinct tool marks, and the implements that made them, gives unique insight of the intangible heritage, and is a vital part of the interpretation of this and other important collections, and hence will inform future conservation and interpretation. A further Torres publication is forthcoming by Bonney, Colston and Goodman.

Sharing

The research was shared with the museum sector through international conferences & seminars, the HAMR website (www.hamr.blogs.lincoln.ac.uk), and through close engagement of conservators and scientists in the multidisciplinary Historic and Ancient Materials Research forum.

Contributors

Undertaken in collaboration with the Natural History Museum and the Ion Beam Facility, University of Surrey, with financial support from EPSRC, giving access to highly specialised equipment not available at Lincoln.