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P1.2 THE DEVELOPMENT OF A HISTOLOGICAL INDEX FOR ASSESSING THE CONDITION OF HAIR FROM ARCHAEOLOGICAL OR FORENSIC CONTEXTS Andrew S. Wilson1,2, Hilary I. Dodson2, Robert C. Janaway1, A. Mark Pollard1, Desmond J. Tobin2 1Department of Archaeological Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom, 2Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom Utilization of the hair shaft is becoming increasingly important in a number of areas of archaeological science and forensic investigation. The need for data on hair fiber condition is an important cornerstone to assessing the reliability of information derived from such hair samples. The current study had the following objectives: 1) To investigate the sequence of biodegradative change to human terminal scalp hair from archaeological and forensic contexts and 2) To translate information on degradative change to the hair shaft into a useable histological index to assess sample condition. Samples of cut modern scalp hair were subjected to biodegradation under field and laboratory conditions in simulated grave microenvironments. Recovered hair samples were examined by high resolution light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy in order to develop a histological index for assessing sample condition. Degradation was found to occur first within the least robust structural components (e.g. the endocuticle, nuclear remnants and intercellular δ-layer), affording the least resistance to chemical alteration. Histological condition was scored from 0 (no change) to 3 (severe change). The combined scores were then normalised by ranking them on a scale from 5 (little change) to 0 (severe change) to enable comparison with other similar histological indices (eg. for bone) already in use in archaeological science. The histological index was validated using known hair samples recovered after two years burial in association with pigs as human body analogues.Decomposition of the buried body has a major impact on hair survival and/ or degradation. Detailed understanding of the selective progress of degradation in hair fibres derived from archaeological or forensic contexts has enabled us to establish a means of quantifying the extent of change through the development of a histological index for assessing sample condition that will have widespread application to archaeology and forensic investigation. |
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