Abstract
We study elemental concentrations in archaeological human bone, linked to interest in essential element homeostasis and also uptake of potentially harmful elements; the study of elemental concentrations in ancient skeletal remains can potentially be linked with modern studies, providing a reference to high exposure levels no longer common today. The samples, adult bone from the Romano-British period, were obtained from Cirencester, located approximately 150km to the west of London. Some of the remains were found in stone enclosures, others in Pb-lined enclosures, and yet, others devoid of a record of the form of burial. Using a measurement arrangement consisting of a low-energy mini-X-ray generator and a Si-PIN detector, results are obtained of periosteal (bone surface) concentrations, the influence of the post-mortem environment being clearly differentiated from in vivo uptake. Simultaneous multi-element measurements have been made of Zn, Sr and Pb, with respective concentrations in the range 27 +/- 16 to 254 +/- 17 mu gg(-1); 33 +/- 16 to 124 +/- 17 mu gg(-1) and 44 +/- 15 to similar to 10% Pbg(-1) of interrogated medium. Lead-lined burials result in Pb contamination of the inner (cambium/osteogenic) surface layer of the bone, positively skewing Pb data. Copyright (c) 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.