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Laboratory Detection Limits of Potential Human Decomposition Products Under a Variety of Soil Conditions

Travaly, Sarah Elizabeth
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1469541371

Abstract Details

2016, Master of Science, University of Akron, Geology.
This study is part of a larger project titled, “In Situ Shallow Subsurface Spectroscopy (S4 Initiative)” which is focused on furthering the research on shallow subsurface spectroscopic and geochemical prospecting of archaeological deposits in situ. The long term goal is to create a geochemical instrument for subsurface prospection and characterization of soil conditions in an archaeological and forensic context. The specific purpose of this study was to establish laboratory detection limits of four potential human decomposition products (leucine, calcium pyrophosphate, oleic acid, and palmitic acid) under a variety of soil conditions and demonstrate their applicability to human burial analogues under field conditions. Detection limits were determined under laboratory conditions by collecting ATR-FTIR spectra on soil samples to which known concentrations of the four human decomposition products had been added. The soil used was collected from three locations representing a variety of texture classes (particle size) and organic matter contents. A similar process was utilized to detect the compounds in soil samples taken from two sites where pigs had been buried as human analogues. Soil cores taken from the “pig dig” sites allowed for the effectiveness of the detection limits to be tested using sample analogues of human burials under field conditions. All four of the human decomposition products were detected in the samples to which they had been added, though no significant relationships to either particle size or organic matter content were observed. Detection limits ranged from 1.0% - 0.04% for leucine, 4.0% - 0.05% for calcium pyrophosphate, 0.10% - 0.01% for oleic acid, and 1.0% - 0.01% for palmitic acid in all samples. ATR-FTIR spectral peaks representative of one or more fatty acids were present in some of the cores in both of the human burial analogues, however peaks representative of leucine and calcium pyrophosphate were not present in any of the cores from either human burial analogue. The detection limits of leucine and calcium pyrophosphate were too high to adequately distinguish the presence of either product in the human burial analogue samples, which contained only trace amounts of each product. However, the detection limits of both oleic and palmitic acid were low enough that both were present in samples taken from each of the human burial analogues. One sample which contained visible pig tissue decomposition, contained spectral peaks indicative of approximately 1.0% oleic acid and/or 1.0 – 4.0% palmitic acid. The results from this study suggest that fatty acids will be beneficial decomposition products for further research by the S4 Initiative in their pursuit to create a geochemical instrument for subsurface archaeological prospection.
Linda Barrett, Dr. (Advisor)
Timothy Matney, Dr. (Committee Member)
John Senko, Dr. (Committee Member)
123 p.
Archaeology; Environmental Geology; Forensic Anthropology; Geochemistry; Geology; Soil Sciences
soil; FTIR; infrared spectroscopy; human decomposition; archaeology; forensics; geochemistry

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Travaly, S. E. (2016). Laboratory Detection Limits of Potential Human Decomposition Products Under a Variety of Soil Conditions [Master's thesis, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1469541371

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Travaly, Sarah. Laboratory Detection Limits of Potential Human Decomposition Products Under a Variety of Soil Conditions. 2016. University of Akron, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1469541371.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Travaly, Sarah. "Laboratory Detection Limits of Potential Human Decomposition Products Under a Variety of Soil Conditions." Master's thesis, University of Akron, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1469541371

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by University of Akron and OhioLINK.