Out of the frying pan into the fire: what value are burnt fish bones to archaeology?

ABSTRACT: This paper examines both the effects on fish bone of heating to high temperatures and the potential information surviving for archaeologists after fishes have been burned. Field and laboratory-based experiments were conducted using bones from a selection of fish species. Whole fishes were placed on fires which reached temperatures of up to 850°C; the colour of the bones and the representation of skeletal elements were examined. Bones were also heated in a muffle furnace to temperatures ranging from 200°-900°c and examined with regard to colour, strength: and surface morphology, the last using the scanning electron microscope. The results were compared with archaeological material and it is concluded that within limits the temperature which a bone reached during heating may be determined in an archaeological context. Both experiments have important implications for the interpretation of archaeological burnt fish remains. Keywords: Fish, Bone, Heating, Archaeology, Taphonomy. RESUMEN: El trabajo analizan tanto los efectos que sobre los huesos de peces produce la coccion a altos temperaturas como la informacion de potencial utilidad arqueologica que perdura una vez que los peces han surtido tal proceso. Experimentos de campo y de laboratorio, han sido realizados sobre una variada gama de pescados. Peces completos fueron colocados sobre hogueras en donde se registran temperaturas de hasta 850°C; posteriormente, se examinaron Ias gamas de colores y los patrones de representatividad esqueletica (que presentaban las osamentas analizadas). Otros huesos fueron calentados en hornos cerrados a temperaturas que oscilaron entre los 200°-900°C calibrandose posteriormente su color, resistencia y morfologia en superficie para lo cual se utilizo un microscopio electronico de barrido. Los resultados se compararon con materiales arqueologicos concluyendo qua, dentro de ciertos limites, resulta posible determinar en contextos arqueologicos Ia temperatura alcanzada por un hueso sometido a un proceso de calentamiento. Ambos experimentos poseen importantes connotaciones de cara a Ia interpretacion de restos arqueologicos quemados de peces. Palabras clave: Pez, Hueso, Coccion, Arqueologia, Tafonomia