The EDTA and HCl methods of pre-treating bones

Abstract

The results of experiments performed to evaluate the EDTA method of pre-treating bones are given for newly dated samples older than one thousand years. Inter-laboratory checks using three samples, together with checks using samples measured exclusively in Uppsala, indicate that the EDTA method allows of the reliable pre-treatment of bones. Samples subjected to different HCl treatments may yield faulty results. In all probability, the HCl treatment can be improved to produce reliable results.