A PUZZLING PURPLE PIGMENT: PRESERVATION AND PSEUDOPATHOLOGY PREDICAMENTS

Staining of an unknown origin that ranges from a pink to purple hue has been identified on a number of human remains from three different contexts: a Middle Woodland mound and log crypt from the Dickison South Mounds in the Central Illinois River Valley; the Third Street historic cemetery in Dubuque, IA; and the University of Iowa-Stanford anatomical collection. Such staining is likely related to putrefaction and decomposition processes involving saprophytic and/or yeast-like fungus activity. Initial findings suggest that human remains with compromised mineral integrity, including pathology specimens, are more susceptible to this type of decomposition. Associated taphonomic changes such as warping and cortical destruction can mimic pathological processes and should be precluded during differential diagnosis. Findings also indicate these processes can occur during curation, and may complicate skeletal analysis and pathology diagnosis in collections as well as recently excavated material.