Isolation of proline and hydroxyproline from fossil bone

We describe a simple and rapid procedure for the isolation of proline and hydroxyproline from fossil bone based on the isolation of gelatin, hydrolysis, purification with XAD-2, deamination of primary amino acids with aqua regia, and separation of the imino acids by cation exchange chromatography. This procedure will provide material for accurate bone carbon dating, and stable carbon isotope ratio determinations for the evaluation of paleodiets.