Use of micro-computed tomography imaging and porosity measurements as indicators of collagen preservation in archaeological bone

Collagen isolated from archaeological bone is a common material for radiocarbon dating, stable isotope analysis, and zooarchaeology by mass spectrometry (ZooMS). However, not all bones contain extant collagen, leading to unnecessary destruction of unproductive bones and wasted laboratory time and resources. An aim of this research is to study bone diagenesis, particularly collagen destruction, in an effort to develop a minimally destructive...