Using Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy to Locate Postmortem Bone Changes

What is it about?

This paper uses two mini-studies to expound on using laser scanning confocal microscopy as a means of determining if postmortem bone changes occured and to what extent those changes occured. The first study used several pig bones and determined that by using the bones' natural autofluorescence there was a difference between a 5-year postmortem sample, and a fresh sample. The second part of the study focused more on mapping diagenesis in human samples ranging from fresh to some 2nd-4th century BCE.

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Why is it important?

By understanding and mapping diagenesis we can determine on a histological basis what samples and sections of bone to use and which should be discarded due to biological or mineral alterations. Further, the first part of the project lays the groundwork for a wider project using laser scanning confocal microscopy as a means developing a more accurate post-mortem interval in skeletal remains using bone autofluorescence.