Bone Research Studies Romanian Social Structure, Health in Aging

In Székelyföld, an ethnically Hungarian region of Romania that once fought for its existence during a period of dictatorship, people are still trying to learn more about the way their ancestors were buried, according to Armando Anzellini.

Three different burial methods were used in the community’s Romanian graveyard, but there is no information as to why.

Anzellini, a bioarchaeologist, forensic anthropologist and assistant professor of anthropology, has been invited by research colleagues to assist in analyzing remains from the burial site, using isotope ratio analysis, to figure out if there is a social or temporal reason for the differences.

It’s one of three projects either ongoing, or just completed, in Anzellini’s Bioarchaeology & Skeletal Biology Lab at Lehigh. Anzellini, who is often assisted by undergraduate research assistants from a variety of disciplines, is also studying the biomechanics of bone—how bone reacts to activity by doing three-dimensional models of the bone. It’s possible the research, in conjunction with research others have done, can one day prevent or treat bone-related ailments. And he just completed a project using Raman spectroscopy, which uses a low-powered laser and the wavelength of light scattered to determine molecular structure.

With isotope ratio analysis and the Romanian remains, Anzellini uses various chemicals, depending on his end goal, on either bone or teeth that are broken into tiny pieces. To study collagen, the organic part of bones, Anzellini uses hydrochloric acid to eat away at the mineral of bone, leaving just collagen behind. To study the mineral, he uses a concentrated version of hydrogen peroxide or sodium hypochlorite bleach to rid the sample of the organic material.

Despite getting permission from descendant communities, making sure those communities get all the information from the research and the researchers trying to minimize how invasive they are, Anzellini says the process is still destructive—taking pieces of bones from humans. In the long term, he says, he hopes that the use of Raman spectroscopy as a proxy in other research, such as another study he just finished, will lead to a less destructive process.

Raman spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy is a method that uses a low-powered laser aimed at a specific material. In his research, Anzellini says he used an infrared laser (1064nm excitation laser) on human remains. Since infrared light is just beyond the spectrum of visible light, Anzellini says it doesn’t damage the specimens, maybe just gives off a little bit of heat.

The system providing the light also picks up the scattered light from the material, and from the wavelengths of light scattered, the molecular structure can be determined.

In addition to trying to use the molecular data gathered “as a proxy” for his isotope ratio analysis, Anzellini says the work also helps determine how degraded bone material is and how well the specimen was preserved.

Biomechanics

The other of Anzellini’s projects involves biomechanics. Bone, Anzellini explains, reacts to the pressures and activities a person partakes in, and the bone can completely change shape based on the activity. He said sometimes there are significant differences in the shape of the tibia of someone who regularly runs versus someone who regularly swims.

One way to study how the bone reacts is through CT scans of the bone. Anzellini says he then creates solid body models of the bone and then puts those models into a system called finite element analysis.

While only one or two students are present in the lab at the same time, Anzellini says he has had a total of about five to 10 students assisting each semester.

Connor Malinger ’26 began working in the lab in Spring 2023. He began in-person, working on demineralizing bone samples and isolating collagen for later analysis with Anzellini’s isotope ratio analysis but now is working virtually, preparing 3D models of CT scans of bones with Anzellini’s biomechanics work.

He says he was interested in anthropology and initially just thought working in a lab would be “a cool experience,” but now has switched his major to anthropology.

“My favorite part is when I get in a flow and can automatically work through the protocols,” Malinger says. “There's a lot of early frustration and small adjustments that I needed to make, but now it's almost always enjoyable. Besides that, I also really enjoy the feeling that I am a part of the creation of a real product/study. In classes, often it's difficult to make the connection to what a future beyond college in the field might look like but this really helps me get a better glimpse of that.”

The lab is interdisciplinary as well, as Anzellini has had students majoring in subjects including biology, journalism and political science, not just anthropology.

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