Comparative Histology of Burned Mammals Using Light Microscopy: Examining Heat-Induced Changes in Femoral Samples of Deer, Pig and Cow.

• Author / Creator

  Horocholyn, Kalyna

• This study focuses on the histological comparisons between deer, pig and cow. Five femoral specimens from each species were selected and burned at 600oC, 800oC and 1000oC. Burned and unburned control samples were thin-sectioned for light microscopic analysis. Visibility of histological structures in burned samples was reduced due to carbonization. Limitations in visible cortical areas resulted in biased sampling selections and smaller sample sizes. Quantitative analysis showed evidence of deer Haversian structures being the smallest and cow Haversian structures being the largest of the samples studied. Statistical analysis demonstrated changes in osteon dimensions of pig and cow samples at 800oC and 1000oC. The contraction of osteons in pig burned samples at these two temperatures led to pig osteon dimensions being similar to those of deer osteons at 800oC and 1000oC. This result suggests that species differentiation may be difficult to conduct on burned specimens above 600oC.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Bioarchaeology
  • Light microscope
  • Histology
  • Burned

• Graduation date

  Fall 2013

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Arts

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3T727S4M

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.