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Contact information
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Keywords
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Links
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quimripoll@gmail.com
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Early Neolithic
Osteons
Secondary products
Bone microstructure
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Research lines
- Study of animal bone microstructure in order to identify patterns related to husbandry practices
- Biological data that bone microstructure can provide by studying its composition on animal bone, such as taxonomy, taphonomy, anatomy and more
- Early Neolithic and the beginning of the adoption of domestic fauna for economic purposes
I study the impact of husbandry practices in the microstructure of animal bone, especially domestic species. By the quantitative and qualitative analysis of Haversian Systems it is possible to study the impact these practices had on the animal bones. They vary in shape, size and quantity according to the remodelling processes that the animal skeleton may suffer. These can be multiple and varied, depending on the stress they are subjected to, the movement regime, the breeding or the type of exploitation they are subjected to.
Considering the intact preservation of these anatomical units after the death of the individual, their study can be an appropriate method to deepen in our knowledge about the use of the first domesticates.
The methodology comprises a mechanical and a digital process to fulfil the complete study. In the first part, the preparation of the thin layer is performed. A small piece is removed from the bone diaphysis. The layer is embedded in Epotix resin and polishing with Carborundum to a thickness of 30 microns. The thin sections are mounted on glass slides and viewed under transmitted light with OLYMPUS BX53 microscope Photo acquisition is performed at the 4×magnification level in a JPG image format, at a resolution of 2450 px/1920 px.
The second part is the analysis of Haversian systems. Area, perimeter and maximal and minimal diameters are performed systematically over an area of 3,5 mm. It requires the identification of primary and secondary bone tissue as a procedure to verify the appearance of the Haversian systems.
Works on faunal assemblages from…
Spain
- Bauma del Serrat del Pont (la Garrotxa, Catalunya) – Mesolithic
- Cova de Can Sadurní (Vegues, Catalunya) – Early Neolithic
- Cova del Frare (Matadepera, Catalunya) – Early Neolithic
- La Draga (Banyoles, Catalunya) – Early Neolithic
Research projects
HAR2017-88304-P: Arqueobioquímica de la alimentación durante el neolítico peninsular: nuevos marcadores y referenciales para el estudio de las pautas de reproducción y consumo en arqueología. PI: Maria Saña Seguí, Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad.
HAR2014-60081-R: Produccion animal y ceramica en el neolitico peninsular. Estudio biogeoquimico integrado del consumo y las practicas culinarias. PI: Maria Saña Seguí, Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad.
CLT009/18/00023: Evolució del poblament i ús del territori al prepirineu oriental durant la prehistòria recent (10000-900 cal bc). PI: Maria Saña Seguí, Departamemt de Cultura, Generalitat de Catalunya.
Featured publications
Joaquim Ripoll, Maria Saña (Submitted.). “Bone microstructure as a method to detect animal exploitation: new data on sheep and goat management strategies during the Early Neolithic in the Middle Euphrates Valley”. The Holocene.
Archaeology Degree Project, UAB, 21/06/2017: Dairy production and animal exploitation in Early Neolithic through bone microstructure. Supervisors: Dra Maria Saña, Dr Roger Alcàntara
Official Master of Prehistory, Classical and Medieval Age Project, UAB, 15/09/2018: Bone microstructure as a method to detect dairy exploitation: new data on first husbandry practices during Early Neolithic in NE Iberia. Supervisors: Dra Maria Saña, Dr Roger Alcàntara