Bone material and mineralogical processes of its destruction at the site of Tell el-Farkha

Destruction of artifacts present at archaeological sites is the process leading to disappearance of objects. That is why determination of ways and stages of destruction may help reconstruct important finds. The article deals with results of investigation of bones damage at the Pre- and Early Dynastic archeological site of Tell el-Farkha located in the Nile Delta. Archaeological importance of bone material is pointed as well as usual context of its discovery. Then, two ways of bone destruction are described – chemical by dissolution and disintegration by crystallization of secondary minerals at the bone structure. Additionally, it was stated that although animal bones are generally discovered in rather poor condition, they are usually better preserved than human bones observed as skeletons at tombs. This phenomenon is the effect of various burial rules of human and animal remains. Human skeletons were buried with all tissues and products of decomposition represented mostly by organic acids formed due to tissue decomposition lead to damage of human bones. Bones of animals were usually buried out of meat therefore the mentioned processes did not take place.