Extended Data Fig. 6: Histological analysis of Mtoto’s bone. | Nature

Extended Data Fig. 6: Histological analysis of Mtoto’s bone.

From: Earliest known human burial in Africa

Extended Data Fig. 6

Elemental composition of clouded bone (Cb) and encrusting calcium carbonate precipitate (Cc) (SEM–EDS image and spectra). The pictured area corresponds to that of Fig. 3c, d. Diffuse lighter grey areas within the clouded bone may be permineralized rims around fine-scale (0.1–1 μm) bioerosion foci. Note the variable enrichment in Ca (especially in spectrum 21) and the low concentrations of Fe, Al, and Mg in the authigenic Ca-P phase that makes up the clouded bone. The pervasive recrystallization of the bone hydroxyapatite into a Ca-enriched, amorphous or cryptocrystalline calcium phosphate appears to be associated with fine-scale bacterial microtunnelling.

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