Taphonomic Processes Etch Bones: An Experimental Look at Plant Root Etchings on Bovine Bones

Abstract

Taphonomy is the study that examines the changes that biological remains undergo after death. My project focuses on the aspect of taphonomy that investigates how plant roots interact with skeletal material. This experiment explores the effects of root etching on buried bovine rib bones over a nine-month duration within a controlled greenhouse environment. For the experimental setup, four plant species and two control samples were evaluated. Results show that root staining and mechanical root action can occur within this period; however, conclusive evidence of rootlet etching is inconclusive without scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Additionally, unexpected differential staining was noted on some of the bones, which was proposed to be due to components within the potting mix. Moreover, the presence of intrusive Fatoua villosa highlighted the difficulties posed by uncontrolled environmental factors in medico-legal scenes. The results found within this experiment can advance forensic anthropology by refining timelines for root interactions with remains, suggesting possible uses in medicolegal investigations.