Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Focus
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, A302-107 Wiggins Rd., University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada
Department of Anthropology, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E1, Canada
Canadian Light Source, 101 Perimeter Road, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X4, Canada
d
National Parks Antigua, West Indies
b
c
a r t i c l e i n f o
a b s t r a c t
Article history:
Received 30 November 2011
Received in revised form
17 January 2012
Accepted 26 January 2012
Trace element analysis related to archaeological bone is viewed as one way to determine levels of
element exposure in past populations. This area of research is complex because there is the potential for
the incorporation of trace elements from the burial environment into archaeological bone. We tested the
hypothesis that matching the spatial distribution of trace elements within cortical bone with the biological structures would provide evidence of biogenic uptake. We examined samples from a nonsegregated Royal British Naval cemetery (1793e1822) in Antigua, West Indies. A key historical question related to this population was the extent of exposure to lead and the resulting health effects. Images
from conventional light microscopy (histological) analysis of the bone samples were matched with
elemental maps of calcium, strontium, and lead that were created through the use of synchrotron
radiation X-ray uorescence (SR-XRF). Biogenic uptake of both strontium and lead was indicated based
on the localization of these trace elements within discreet microstructural elements. The successful
integration of histological information with XRF data is a powerful technique for the interpretation of
past biological events through trace elements.
2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords:
Bone
SR-XRF
Microarchitecture
Strontium
Lead
1. Introduction
Bone is a dynamic tissue that is continually replaced throughout
life. This turnover, known as remodeling, replaces existing bone
through focal resorption events and new bone formation. In the
cortex of bones, these remodeling events create cylindrical microstructures known as osteons (Haversian systems), which have
a mean diameter of approximately 250 mm in humans (Britz et al.,
2009). Bone microstructure survives death and can be preserved in
the archaeological (Mulhern and Van Gerven, 1997) and fossil
record (Abbott et al., 1996). The continual nature of the remodeling
process in humans ensures that new bone is always being formed
even after growth is completed. This provides the primary mechanism for the accumulation of trace elements in the adult skeleton.
0305-4403/$ e see front matter 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.jas.2012.01.041
Please cite this article in press as: Swanston, T., et al., Element localization in archaeological bone using synchrotron radiation X-ray uorescence: identication of biogenic uptake, Journal of Archaeological Science (2012), doi:10.1016/j.jas.2012.01.041
Please cite this article in press as: Swanston, T., et al., Element localization in archaeological bone using synchrotron radiation X-ray uorescence: identication of biogenic uptake, Journal of Archaeological Science (2012), doi:10.1016/j.jas.2012.01.041
Fig. 1. SR-XRF Spatial Maps. Histological image (A.) Highlighting regions of interest depicted in Fig. 2. The periosteal surface faces right. Corresponding XRF spatial maps of Ca in
yellow (B.), Pb in red (C.) and Sr in blue (D.). Since the detector was placed 45 to the right, surfaces facing right exhibit increased intensity due to less self-absorption while surfaces
facing left have a reduced intensity. This artefact is most noticeable for Ca on all larger canals and the periosteal surface. It is reduced in Pb and Sr but still evident on the periosteal
surface. The colour scale indicates the normalized XRF intensity but the values do not reect the true concentration.
deposition within the bone. As such, the results from this preliminary analysis strongly support the conclusion that this individual
from 18th century Antigua was exposed to Pb during life. Evidence
of biogenic Pb is not surprising considering the time frame (A.D.
1793e1822) of the cemetery and the knowledge that many items
that contained Pb were utilized during that time, including tableware, distillation equipment, and water catchment systems
(McCord, 1953; Wittmers et al., 2002).
Just as this approach can provide evidence for antemortem
uptake, we believe it may help to identify diagenetic changes in
subsequent applications. The burial environment of archaeological
bone is a source of trace elements, and it is known that these
elements can be incorporated during post-mortem alteration
(Koenig et al., 2009, Lebon et al., 2010, Reiche et al., 2010, Trueman
et al., 2008). Research on the fossilization of bone has demonstrated
recrystallization of apatite (Koenig et al., 2009). Indeed, trace
elements in pore water have been found to adsorb to bone mineral
during the fossilization process (Trueman et al., 2011). Previous LAICP-MS studies on fossilized bone have also shown the uptake of
rare earth elements with patterns that indicate the extent of
diagenesis (Koenig et al., 2009, Trueman et al., 2008).
Post-mortem modication of bone chemistry is initially
concentrated on the bone surfaces (Trueman et al., 2008). For
example, ubiquitous Pb penetrating all surfaces would be
Please cite this article in press as: Swanston, T., et al., Element localization in archaeological bone using synchrotron radiation X-ray uorescence: identication of biogenic uptake, Journal of Archaeological Science (2012), doi:10.1016/j.jas.2012.01.041
Fig. 2. Details of regions highlighted in Fig. 1. Each set includes a Sr map (blue), a Pb map (red), a composite Sr and Pb map and a histological image (grey). Region 1 depicts an
osteon with a heterogeneous Sr distribution and Pb labelling of the cement line. Region 2 depicts an osteon which is enriched in Sr and Pb. This osteon was higher in Pb than any
other in the specimen and had two bright rings indicative of lamellae formed during peak exposure. Region 3 contains a pair of osteons. The superior exhibits strong Pb labelling of
the canal surface while the inferior shows labelling of the cement line with no enrichment at the canal surface. Region 4 contains an irregularly shaped osteon which is enriched in
both Sr and Pb. Notably, the canals of this structure also show little Pb enrichment, particularly the upper portion. Scale bar (centre) is 250 microns long.
Please cite this article in press as: Swanston, T., et al., Element localization in archaeological bone using synchrotron radiation X-ray uorescence: identication of biogenic uptake, Journal of Archaeological Science (2012), doi:10.1016/j.jas.2012.01.041
Koenig, A.E., Rogers, R.R., Trueman, C.N., 2009. Visualizing fossilization using laser
ablationeinductively coupled plasmaemass spectrometry maps of trace
elements in Late Cretaceous bones. Geology 37, 511e514.
Kuczumow, A., Cukrowska, E., Stachniuk, A., Gawe da, R., Mroczka, R.,
Paszkowicz, W., Skrzypiec, K., Falkenberg, R., Backwell, L., 2010. Investigation of
chemical changes in bone material from South African fossil hominid deposits.
Journal of Archaeological Science 37, 107e115.
Lambert, J.B., Simpson, S.V., Buikstra, J.E., Hanson, D., 1983. Electron microprobe
analysis of elemental distribution in excavated human femurs. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 62, 409e423.
Lebon, M., Reiche, I., Bahain, J.J., Chadefaux, C., Moigne, A.M., Frohlich, F., Semah, F.,
Schwarcz, H.P., Falgueres, C., 2010. New parameters for the characterization of
diagenetic alterations and heat-induced changes of fossil bone mineral using
Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. Journal of Archaeological Science 37,
2265e2276.
Martin, R.R., Naftel, S.J., Nelson, A.J., Edwards, M., Mithoowani, H., Stakiw, J., 2010.
Synchrotron radiation analysis of possible correlations between metal status in
human cementum and periodontal disease. Journal of Synchrotron Radiation
17, 263e267.
Martin, R.R., Naftel, S.J., Nelson, A.J., Feilen, A.B., Narvaez, A., 2004. Synchrotron Xray uorescence and trace metals in the cementum rings of human teeth.
Journal of Environmental Monitoring 6, 783e786.
Martin, R.R., Naftel, S.J., Nelson, A.J., Feilen, A.B., Narvaez, A., 2007a. Metal distributions in the cementum rings of human teeth: possible depositional chronologies and diagenesis. Journal of Archaeological Science 34, 936e945.
Martin, R.R., Naftel, S.J., Nelson, A.J., Sapp III, W.D., 2007b. Comparison of the
distributions of bromine, lead, and zinc in tooth and bone from an ancient
Peruvian burial site by X-ray uorescence. Canadian Journal of Chemistry 85,
831e836.
Maurer, A.F., Gerard, M., Person, A., Barrientos, I., del Carmen Ruiz, P., Darras, V.,
Durlet, C., Zeitoun, V., Renard, M., Faugre, B., 2011. Intra-skeletal variability in
trace elemental content of Precolumbian Chupicuaro human bones: the record
of post-mortem alteration and a tool for palaeodietary reconstruction. Journal
of Archaeological Science 38, 1784e1797.
McCord, C.P., 1953. Lead and lead poisoning in Early America: lead mines and lead
poisoning. Industrial Medicine & Surgery 22, 534e539.
Meirer, F., Pemmer, B., Pepponi, G., Zoeger, N., Wobrauschek, P., Sprio, S., Tampieri, A.,
Goettlicher, J., Steininger, R., Mangold, S., Roschger, P., Berzlanovich, A.,
Hofstaettere, J.G., Strelia, C., 2011. Assessment of chemical species of lead accumulated in tidemarks of human articular cartilage by X-ray absorption near-edge
structure analysis. Journal of Synchrotron Radiation 18, 238e244.
Mulhern, D.M., Van Gerven, D.P., 1997. Patterns of femoral bone remodeling
dynamics in a medieval Nubian population. American Journal of Physical
Anthropology 104, 133e146.
Papworth, D.G., Patrick, G., 1970. The kinetics of inux of calcium and strontium into
rat intestine in vitro. The Journal of Physiology 210, 999e1020.
Reiche, I., Lebon, M., Chadefaux, C., Mller, K., Le H, A.-S., Gensch, M., Schade, U.,
2010. Microscale imaging of the preservation state of 5,000-year-old archaeological bones by synchrotron infrared microspectroscopy. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 397, 2491e2499.
Sillen, A., 1986. Biogenic and diagenetic Sr/Ca in Plio-Pleistocene fossils of the Omo
Shungura formation. Paleobiology 12, 311e323.
Stefanova, V., Kmetov, V., Canals, A., 2003. Application of internal standardization in
ICP-QMS through discrete sample introduction methodologies. Journal of
Analytical Atomic Spectrometry 18, 1171e1174.
Trueman, C.N., Kocsis, L., Palmer, M.R., Dewdney, C., 2011. Fractionation of rare earth
elements within bone mineral: a natural cation exchange system. Paleogeography Paleoclimatology Paleoecology 310, 124e132.
Trueman, C.N., Palmer, M.R., Field, J., Privat, K., Ludgate, N., Chavagnac, V.,
Eberth, D.A., Cifelli, R., Rogers, R.R., 2008. Comparing rates of recrystallisation
and the potential for preservation of biomolecules from the distribution of trace
elements in fossil bones. Comptes Rendus Palevol 7, 145e158.
Wittmers, L.E., Aufderheide, A., Rapp, G., Alich, A., 2002. Archaeological Contributions of skeletal lead analysis. Accounts of Chemical Research 35, 669e675.
Wittmers Jr., L.E., Aufderheide, A.C., Pounds, J.G., Jones, K.W., Angel, J.L., 2008.
Problems in determination of skeletal lead burden in archaeological samples:
an example from the First African Baptist Church population. American Journal
of Physical Anthropology 136, 379e386.
Yen, P.K.-J., Shaw, J.H., 1977. Basic biological sciences. Journal of Dental Research 56,
961e966.
Please cite this article in press as: Swanston, T., et al., Element localization in archaeological bone using synchrotron radiation X-ray uorescence: identication of biogenic uptake, Journal of Archaeological Science (2012), doi:10.1016/j.jas.2012.01.041