Bromine in teeth and bone as an indicator of marine diet

Synchrotron micro-X-ray Fluorescence has been used to map the metal distribution in selected bone fragments representative of remains associated with the Franklin expedition. In addition, laser ablation mass spectroscopy using a 25 µm diameter circular spot was employed to compare the Pb isotope distributions in small regions within the bone fragments. The X-ray Fluorescence mapping shows Pb to be widely distributed in the bone while the Pb isotope ratios obtained by laser ablation within small areas representative of bone with different Pb exchange rates do not show statistically significant differences. These results are inconsistent with the hypothesis that faulty solder seals in tinned meat were the principle source of Pb in the remains of the expedition personnel.

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“…The King William Island (Fig. 3c) fragment is rich in Br, which might reasonably be associated with a marine diet [39].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pb distribution in bones from the Franklin expedition: synchrotron X-ray fluorescence and laser ablation/mass spectroscopy

et al. 2013

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“…In the dimension associated with PC1, there is a discrete, highly‐positively correlated group of biogenic elements: P, S, Cl, Ca, V, Br, and Sr (Figure ). This group—particularly Cl, V, Br, Sr—‐is generally abundant in the marine environment and in coastal settings (Turekian, ; Blotcky et al., ; Burton & Price, ; Shotyk, ; Franklin, ; Shotyk et al., ; Leri et al., ; Schofield et al., ; Dolphin et al., ). Thus, their presence in peat—a deposit that is obviously formed under terrestrial conditions (Kurbatov, )—is likely to be due to a combination of sea‐spray, storm surges, and particularly high tides (Shotyk et al., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Geochemical Signal from a Mesolithic Intertidal Archaeological Site: A Proof‐of‐Concept Study from Clachan Harbor, Scotland

Mikołajczyk

Schofield

2016

Geoarchaeology

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This paper presents the results of multielemental mapping conducted on peat samples taken from a presumed Mesolithic coastal activity zone at the intertidal site of Clachan Harbor, Scotland. The aim of the study was to use peat geochemical analysis to assess possible evidence for an anthropogenic chemical signal within the peat that might be linked to the use of the site during the Mesolithic. Spatial changes in peat geochemistry revealed a “change point” within the peat bed that may reflect the former boundary between the human activity zone and the coastline. Enhanced dating of events was achieved by integrating the chemical dataset with an existing relative sea‐level curve available for the site. The research demonstrates the advantages of using a multielemental method ahead of a single‐element (e.g., phosphorous‐only) approach when attempting to characterize and trace chemical evidence for past human activity in the intertidal zone. This paper will hopefully lead to the adoption of an improved methodology that can help us to better understand the development of coastal sites within an archaeological context.

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“…Their results suggest that teeth can be used to demonstrate the history of exposure of animals to trace elements. Dolphin et al . presents a pilot study testing whether bromine concentrations can provide a tool for teasing apart possible causes of variation in nitrogen isotope ratios.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cluster analyses of 18 chemical variables indicated six different groups of teeth may be related to different nursing or feeding grounds. So far, synchrotron radiation X‐ray fluorescence (SRXRF) and LA‐ICP‐MS have been widely developed in the elemental composition and isotope analysis of teeth.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preliminary in situ teeth study of the narrow‐ridged finless porpoises remains using microsynchrotron radiation X‐ray fluorescence and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

et al. 2018

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In recent years, a growing number of the narrow‐ridged finless porpoises were found dead near the Yangtze River estuary. In this region lived two sympatric subspecies, respectively, the East Asian finless porpoise and the Yangtze finless porpoise. So far, it is difficult to distinguish these two subspecies due to their similar shape and unavailable molecular marker. In this work, synchrotron radiation X‐ray fluorescence (SRXRF) and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) were applied for in situ teeth trace chemical analysis to study subspecies identification and migration near the Yangtze River estuary. Teeth Sr concentration and 87Sr/86Sr ratios, determined by SRXRF and LA‐ICP‐MS techniques, have potential application in the identification of the finless porpoise subspecies. Only one (Sample S4) of the six samples was concluded as the Yangtze finless porpoise, and the others were the East Asian finless porpoise. This study also proved that the Sr/Ca and Zn/Ca ratios could be used as a useful environmental indicator to detect the migratory history of narrow‐ridged finless porpoises.

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Bromine in teeth and bone as an indicator of marine diet

Cited by 27 publications

References 47 publications

Pb distribution in bones from the Franklin expedition: synchrotron X-ray fluorescence and laser ablation/mass spectroscopy

Pb distribution in bones from the Franklin expedition: synchrotron X-ray fluorescence and laser ablation/mass spectroscopy

A Geochemical Signal from a Mesolithic Intertidal Archaeological Site: A Proof‐of‐Concept Study from Clachan Harbor, Scotland

Preliminary in situ teeth study of the narrow‐ridged finless porpoises remains using microsynchrotron radiation X‐ray fluorescence and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

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