Bone density studies and the interpretation of the faunal record

Some bones preserve better than others. For decades, researchers have attempted to quantify this observation. While many of their intrinsic qualities are known to affect how well bones preserve in the archeological record, 1 the variable that has received the most attention to date is bone density. 2–6 This has become the most commonly accepted proxy measure of a bone's ability to withstand destructive forces.

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