Photodensitometry: a useful method for studying bone mineral density in the skeletal remains of children

Bone mineral density studies are frequently undertaken in both human bioarchaeology and zooarchaeology in order to investigate taphonomic processes, health and disease in past populations. In this short study, seventy-two non-adult skeletons from the assemblages of Edix Hill, Cambridge, UK (n=15) and St Oswald’s Priory, Gloucester, UK (n=57) were studied to develop a method of measurement using photodensitometry and to determine the density of the femur and radius and assess which bone portions (i.e proximal, mid-shaft, distal) had the highest density values, which may influence the overall preservation of the skeletal remains and or elements belonging to children. Overall, in this study using this method there appeared to be a continual increase and decrease in bone density at the three areas (proximal, mid-shaft, and distal) of both the femur and radius during early and mid childhood. It would also appear that the density at the mid-shaft of the long bones varies immensely, thus perhaps suggesting that a low bone density reading does not have a profound effect on the survival of this portion of bone