Bone Colour

The study of bone colour, a component of a larger GIS-based examination of the prehistoric Walker-Noe collection, aids in the reconstruction and interpretation of the burial deposit. Understanding the colour variation in controlled experiments and from forensic and archaeological samples is critical to burned bone studies. The use of the CIELAB colour coordinate system enables measurement of differences in overall colours and, additionally, a comparative assessment of the individual axis values. A slight variation is observable in bone surface colour between the core and peripheral regions of the site. Differences in surface colour can be recognised between elements from different skeletal divisions, collectively across the site and also between areas of the site. The interpretation of surface colour data for bone fragments recovered from Walker-Noe provides additional insight into site formation processes at the Middle Woodland period crematory. The approach detailed in this study can readily be applied to other archaeological and forensic investigations to address differential burning, site formation issues and taphonomic factors.