Reply to the comment on “Assessing the extent of bone bioerosion in short timescales – A novel approach for quantifying microstructural loss [Quat. Int., in press, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2023.01.011]”

Abstract

In our original article we evaluated diagenetic changes to rat cortical bone osteocyte lacunae over increasing post-mortem intervals. We suggested that with further, more intensive research, it may be possible to exploit these changes for the purposes of post-mortem interval estimation of skeletal remains. In their comment to our paper, Miszkiewicz et al. (in press) raise concerns about the project design and interpretation of the results. Here, we reply to their comments and offer answers to their concerns.