G Turner‐walker
Biographic Data
| ID | 110494 |
|---|---|
| NAME | G Turner‐walker |
| GIVEN NAMES | G |
| FAMILY NAME | Turner‐walker |
| SIGNATURE | WALKER G T |
| AFFILIATIONS | National Yunlin University of Science and Technology |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-7728-402X |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 21 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 202 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 21 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1995 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2023 |
| H-INDEX | 9 |
Bacterial bioerosion of bones is a post-skeletonisation phenomenon and appears contingent on soil burial
Marine sponge bioerosion in the forensic taphonomy of terrestrial bone
Histological and stable isotope analysis of archeological bones from St. Rombout's cemetery (Mechelen, Belgium)
This study compares histological preservation in archeological bones from different burial types to unravel the histotaphonomy‐to‐funerary practices relationship. Αn intraskeletal approach is also adopted to explore intraindividual (inner ear part of the petrous bone vs. upper/lower limb long bones) and intrabone (proximal vs. distal diaphysis) variability in bone collagen preservation, δ 13 C, and δ 15 N. The aim is to (a) target bones that like…
Microcomputed tomography (laboratory and synchrotron) of intact archeological human second metacarpal bones and age at death
Laboratory microcomputed tomography (microCT) and synchrotron microCT imaged intact human second metacarpal bones (mc2) from two UK archeological sites: Ancaster (3rd to 4th century CE) and Wharram Percy (11th to 14th century CE). Two female mc2 were studied from each of three age at death cohorts (young, 18-29 years; middle, 30-49 years; old ≥50 years) along with a modern control mc2. The present investigation is complementary with an X-ray scat…
Population genomics of the Viking world
The concealed interment of a first‐trimester foetus in Gällared Parish Church (1831), Sweden
In 2015, during architectural restoration works on the parish church (1831) in Gällared, Sweden, a small wooden box was discovered beneath the floorboards. Unaware of the possible significance of the box and its contents, workers on site removed its lid, revealing a piece of folded cloth. This was later found to be wrapped around fragments of human foetal remains. Although largely forgotten now, concealed interment of foetuses in, and around, chu…
Diagenesis of archaeological bone and tooth
Reconstructing taphonomic histories using histological analysis
A possible case of renal osteodystrophy in a skeleton from medieval Wharram Percy, England
The skeletal remains of a child aged 13-15 years, recovered from Wharram Percy, England, and dating from AD 960-1700, were examined using gross observation, radiography and scanning electron microscopy. Lesions suggestive of renal osteodystrophy were found. Palaeopathological recognition of renal disease has hitherto relied upon the identification of soft tissue lesions or the presence of urinary calculi. This appears to be the first palaeopathol…
Osteoporosis in a population from medieval Norway
Modern populations from Norway and England differ in their experience of osteoporosis, the former showing lower bone mineral density (BMD) and a higher fragility fracture rate. The aim of the present work was to investigate whether this was also the case during the Middle Ages. Age‐dependent loss of BMD in the proximal femur was assessed using dual X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) in male and female adult skeletons from a cemetery in the medieval town …
Insights into the processes behind the contamination of degraded human teeth and bone samples with exogenous sources of DNA
A principal problem facing human DNA studies that use old and degraded remains is contamination from other sources of human DNA. In this study we have attempted to contaminate deliberately bones and teeth sampled from a medieval collection excavated in Trondheim, Norway, in order to investigate this poorly understood phenomenon. Five pairs of teeth and bone samples were bathed in water containing various concentrations (from 10−9 and 10−21 g/l) o…
Biochemical and physical correlates of DNA contamination in archaeological human bones and teeth excavated at Matera, Italy
The survival of organic matter in bone
If bone is considered as a composite of collagen (protein) and bioapatite (mineral), then three pathways of diagenesis are identified: (1) chemical deterioration of the organic phase; (2) chemical deterioration of the mineral phase; and (3) (micro) biological attack of the composite. The first of these three pathways is relatively unusual and will only occur in environments that are geochemically stable for bone mineral. However, because rates of…
Quantifying histological changes in archaeological bones using BSE–SEM image analysis
Recent years have seen rapid developments in the understanding of diagenetic changes to archaeological bones. In particular, the degradation or preservation of proteins and other biomolecules has been explored using an increasingly sophisticated battery of analytical techniques. Problems remain, however, in correlating these parameters with physical changes to bone that may be observed microscopically. This is due, in part, to the problems in rep…
Sub-micron spongiform porosity is the major ultra-structural alteration occurring in archaeological bone
Total pore volume and pore size distribution are indicators of the degree of post-mortem modification of bone. Direct measurements of pore size distribution in archaeological bones using mercury intrusion porosimetry (HgIP) and back scattered scanning electron microscopy (BSE-SEM) reveal a common pattern in the changes seen in degraded bone as compared to modern samples. The estimates of pore size distribution from HgIP and direct measurement fro…
Paleopathological and biomolecular study of tuberculosis in a medieval skeletal collection from England
Nine human skeletons of medieval date from a rural English burial site show signs of skeletal tuberculosis. They were subject to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays aimed at detecting traces of DNA from infecting mycobacteria, with the purpose both of confirming the paleopathological diagnosis of tuberculosis and determining in individual cases whether disease was due to M. tuberculosis or M. bovis . In all nine cases, evidence for M. tubercul…
The Archaeology of Osteoporosis
The application of medical scanning technologies to archaeological skeletons provides novel insights into the history and potential causes of osteoporosis. The present study investigated bone mineral density (BMD) in medieval skeletons from England and Norway. Comparisons between the two adult populations found no statistically significant differences. This compares with a modern fracture incidence for the femoral neck in women from Norway that i…
The West Runton fossil elephant
The state of preservation, future stability and research potential of an important fossil find from the Pleistocene (the West Runton fossil elephant) were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, chemical analysis and ‘experimental ageing’ techniques. Results of these analyses indicate that although pyritic minerals are present in the fossil material, the bones are stable when stored in appropriate environmental conditions and that treatm…
Preliminary Results for the Analysis of Lipids in Ancient Bone
A Basic Mathematical Simulation of the Chemical Degradation of Ancient Collagen
The Tensile Strength of Archaeological Bone
A Basic Mathematical Simulation of the Chemical Degradation of Ancient Collagen
Quantifying histological changes in archaeological bones using BSE–SEM image analysis
Recent years have seen rapid developments in the understanding of diagenetic changes to archaeological bones. In particular, the degradation or preservation of proteins and other biomolecules has been explored using an increasingly sophisticated battery of analytical techniques. Problems remain, however, in correlating these parameters with physical changes to bone that may be observed microscopically. This is due, in part, to the problems in rep…
Paleopathological and biomolecular study of tuberculosis in a medieval skeletal collection from England
Nine human skeletons of medieval date from a rural English burial site show signs of skeletal tuberculosis. They were subject to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays aimed at detecting traces of DNA from infecting mycobacteria, with the purpose both of confirming the paleopathological diagnosis of tuberculosis and determining in individual cases whether disease was due to M. tuberculosis or M. bovis . In all nine cases, evidence for M. tubercul…
Sub-micron spongiform porosity is the major ultra-structural alteration occurring in archaeological bone
Total pore volume and pore size distribution are indicators of the degree of post-mortem modification of bone. Direct measurements of pore size distribution in archaeological bones using mercury intrusion porosimetry (HgIP) and back scattered scanning electron microscopy (BSE-SEM) reveal a common pattern in the changes seen in degraded bone as compared to modern samples. The estimates of pore size distribution from HgIP and direct measurement fro…
Biochemical and physical correlates of DNA contamination in archaeological human bones and teeth excavated at Matera, Italy
Preliminary Results for the Analysis of Lipids in Ancient Bone
Osteoporosis in a population from medieval Norway
Modern populations from Norway and England differ in their experience of osteoporosis, the former showing lower bone mineral density (BMD) and a higher fragility fracture rate. The aim of the present work was to investigate whether this was also the case during the Middle Ages. Age‐dependent loss of BMD in the proximal femur was assessed using dual X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) in male and female adult skeletons from a cemetery in the medieval town …
The Archaeology of Osteoporosis
The application of medical scanning technologies to archaeological skeletons provides novel insights into the history and potential causes of osteoporosis. The present study investigated bone mineral density (BMD) in medieval skeletons from England and Norway. Comparisons between the two adult populations found no statistically significant differences. This compares with a modern fracture incidence for the femoral neck in women from Norway that i…
The Tensile Strength of Archaeological Bone
Insights into the processes behind the contamination of degraded human teeth and bone samples with exogenous sources of DNA
A principal problem facing human DNA studies that use old and degraded remains is contamination from other sources of human DNA. In this study we have attempted to contaminate deliberately bones and teeth sampled from a medieval collection excavated in Trondheim, Norway, in order to investigate this poorly understood phenomenon. Five pairs of teeth and bone samples were bathed in water containing various concentrations (from 10−9 and 10−21 g/l) o…
The West Runton fossil elephant
The state of preservation, future stability and research potential of an important fossil find from the Pleistocene (the West Runton fossil elephant) were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, chemical analysis and ‘experimental ageing’ techniques. Results of these analyses indicate that although pyritic minerals are present in the fossil material, the bones are stable when stored in appropriate environmental conditions and that treatm…
A possible case of renal osteodystrophy in a skeleton from medieval Wharram Percy, England
The skeletal remains of a child aged 13-15 years, recovered from Wharram Percy, England, and dating from AD 960-1700, were examined using gross observation, radiography and scanning electron microscopy. Lesions suggestive of renal osteodystrophy were found. Palaeopathological recognition of renal disease has hitherto relied upon the identification of soft tissue lesions or the presence of urinary calculi. This appears to be the first palaeopathol…
Microcomputed tomography (laboratory and synchrotron) of intact archeological human second metacarpal bones and age at death
Laboratory microcomputed tomography (microCT) and synchrotron microCT imaged intact human second metacarpal bones (mc2) from two UK archeological sites: Ancaster (3rd to 4th century CE) and Wharram Percy (11th to 14th century CE). Two female mc2 were studied from each of three age at death cohorts (young, 18-29 years; middle, 30-49 years; old ≥50 years) along with a modern control mc2. The present investigation is complementary with an X-ray scat…
Preliminary Results for the Analysis of Lipids in Ancient Bone
A Basic Mathematical Simulation of the Chemical Degradation of Ancient Collagen
The Tensile Strength of Archaeological Bone
The West Runton fossil elephant
The state of preservation, future stability and research potential of an important fossil find from the Pleistocene (the West Runton fossil elephant) were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, chemical analysis and ‘experimental ageing’ techniques. Results of these analyses indicate that although pyritic minerals are present in the fossil material, the bones are stable when stored in appropriate environmental conditions and that treatm…
Paleopathological and biomolecular study of tuberculosis in a medieval skeletal collection from England
Nine human skeletons of medieval date from a rural English burial site show signs of skeletal tuberculosis. They were subject to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays aimed at detecting traces of DNA from infecting mycobacteria, with the purpose both of confirming the paleopathological diagnosis of tuberculosis and determining in individual cases whether disease was due to M. tuberculosis or M. bovis . In all nine cases, evidence for M. tubercul…
The Archaeology of Osteoporosis
The application of medical scanning technologies to archaeological skeletons provides novel insights into the history and potential causes of osteoporosis. The present study investigated bone mineral density (BMD) in medieval skeletons from England and Norway. Comparisons between the two adult populations found no statistically significant differences. This compares with a modern fracture incidence for the femoral neck in women from Norway that i…
The survival of organic matter in bone
If bone is considered as a composite of collagen (protein) and bioapatite (mineral), then three pathways of diagenesis are identified: (1) chemical deterioration of the organic phase; (2) chemical deterioration of the mineral phase; and (3) (micro) biological attack of the composite. The first of these three pathways is relatively unusual and will only occur in environments that are geochemically stable for bone mineral. However, because rates of…
Quantifying histological changes in archaeological bones using BSE–SEM image analysis
Recent years have seen rapid developments in the understanding of diagenetic changes to archaeological bones. In particular, the degradation or preservation of proteins and other biomolecules has been explored using an increasingly sophisticated battery of analytical techniques. Problems remain, however, in correlating these parameters with physical changes to bone that may be observed microscopically. This is due, in part, to the problems in rep…
Sub-micron spongiform porosity is the major ultra-structural alteration occurring in archaeological bone
Total pore volume and pore size distribution are indicators of the degree of post-mortem modification of bone. Direct measurements of pore size distribution in archaeological bones using mercury intrusion porosimetry (HgIP) and back scattered scanning electron microscopy (BSE-SEM) reveal a common pattern in the changes seen in degraded bone as compared to modern samples. The estimates of pore size distribution from HgIP and direct measurement fro…
Biochemical and physical correlates of DNA contamination in archaeological human bones and teeth excavated at Matera, Italy
Osteoporosis in a population from medieval Norway
Modern populations from Norway and England differ in their experience of osteoporosis, the former showing lower bone mineral density (BMD) and a higher fragility fracture rate. The aim of the present work was to investigate whether this was also the case during the Middle Ages. Age‐dependent loss of BMD in the proximal femur was assessed using dual X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) in male and female adult skeletons from a cemetery in the medieval town …
Insights into the processes behind the contamination of degraded human teeth and bone samples with exogenous sources of DNA
A principal problem facing human DNA studies that use old and degraded remains is contamination from other sources of human DNA. In this study we have attempted to contaminate deliberately bones and teeth sampled from a medieval collection excavated in Trondheim, Norway, in order to investigate this poorly understood phenomenon. Five pairs of teeth and bone samples were bathed in water containing various concentrations (from 10−9 and 10−21 g/l) o…
Reconstructing taphonomic histories using histological analysis
A possible case of renal osteodystrophy in a skeleton from medieval Wharram Percy, England
The skeletal remains of a child aged 13-15 years, recovered from Wharram Percy, England, and dating from AD 960-1700, were examined using gross observation, radiography and scanning electron microscopy. Lesions suggestive of renal osteodystrophy were found. Palaeopathological recognition of renal disease has hitherto relied upon the identification of soft tissue lesions or the presence of urinary calculi. This appears to be the first palaeopathol…
Diagenesis of archaeological bone and tooth
Population genomics of the Viking world
The concealed interment of a first‐trimester foetus in Gällared Parish Church (1831), Sweden
In 2015, during architectural restoration works on the parish church (1831) in Gällared, Sweden, a small wooden box was discovered beneath the floorboards. Unaware of the possible significance of the box and its contents, workers on site removed its lid, revealing a piece of folded cloth. This was later found to be wrapped around fragments of human foetal remains. Although largely forgotten now, concealed interment of foetuses in, and around, chu…
Histological and stable isotope analysis of archeological bones from St. Rombout's cemetery (Mechelen, Belgium)
This study compares histological preservation in archeological bones from different burial types to unravel the histotaphonomy‐to‐funerary practices relationship. Αn intraskeletal approach is also adopted to explore intraindividual (inner ear part of the petrous bone vs. upper/lower limb long bones) and intrabone (proximal vs. distal diaphysis) variability in bone collagen preservation, δ 13 C, and δ 15 N. The aim is to (a) target bones that like…
Microcomputed tomography (laboratory and synchrotron) of intact archeological human second metacarpal bones and age at death
Laboratory microcomputed tomography (microCT) and synchrotron microCT imaged intact human second metacarpal bones (mc2) from two UK archeological sites: Ancaster (3rd to 4th century CE) and Wharram Percy (11th to 14th century CE). Two female mc2 were studied from each of three age at death cohorts (young, 18-29 years; middle, 30-49 years; old ≥50 years) along with a modern control mc2. The present investigation is complementary with an X-ray scat…
Bacterial bioerosion of bones is a post-skeletonisation phenomenon and appears contingent on soil burial
Marine sponge bioerosion in the forensic taphonomy of terrestrial bone
Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies (15 works) · Biology (12 works) · Archaeology (9 works) · Diagenesis (9 works) · Geology (8 works) · Medicine (7 works) · Bone health and osteoporosis research (6 works) · Chemistry (6 works) · Geography (6 works) · Mineralogy (6 works)