État de conservation des ossements dans la grotte Chauvet (Vallon-Pont-d'Arc, Ardèche, France) : implications pour la biogéochimie isotopique (paléodiètes, paléoenvironnements, datations au radiocarbone)
Journal:
Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française
Number:
1
Volume:
102
Year:
2005
Pages:
77-87
Keywords:
ISBN:
ISSN:
URL:
Abstract:
In the Chauvet Cave preservation is the highest priority and only minimum destruction is permitted. In this context, a new method for assessing a priori the preservation of collagen based on the amount of residual nitrogen has been used on the skeletal remains from this site. A majority of bones, around 70%, have lost more than 90% of their original collagen; they are thus useless for biogeochemical applications, including radiocarbon dating. This method uses very small quantities of material, and could also be used to test bone or ivory artefacts, avoiding any unnecessary destruction of valuable items.
