A Nondestructive Prescreening Method for Bone Collagen Content Using Micro-Computed Tomography

Isolation of bone collagen for radiocarbon dating is a labor-intensive and time-consuming process that sometimes results in unacceptably low protein recovery. In preliminary studies reported here, micro-computed tomography (microCT), a nondestructive technique that uses X-rays to produce high-resolution three-dimensional images of mineralized materials such as bone, offers promise as a suitable prescreening option for bones of questionable preservation. We have found that the bone volume fraction calculated by the scanner software correlates well with collagen recovery in 4 analyzed bones from Etton, United Kingdom.