Trace element distribution in human cortical bone microstructure: the potential for unravelling diet and social status in archaeological bones

Abstract

Variation in the trace element chemistry of cortical bone microstructure is delineated for interred and non-interred human femora. This was done to investigate the range of element concentrations that might occur within single bones, specifically the original laminar bone and later osteons, and its potential for investigating chemical life histories. To do so, femora were chosen from individuals who experienced quite different ways of life over the past two millennia. The distributions of Sr, Ba, Cu, and Pb, mostly in partial (early) and complete (late) osteons, in cross-sections of proximal femora were characterized through Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. Absolute calibrations of these data were obtained using solution Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry on adjacent dissolved bulk samples. Chemical life histories were approximated by classifying bone microstructure into four categories: laminar bone and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation osteons. This four-part sequence, on average, charts the temporal dimension of an individual’s life. Consistent with recent studies of medieval bones, Sr and Ba are thought to be mainly responsive to diet, presumably related to the consumption of mostly locally produced food, while Cu and Pb do the same for heavy metal exposure often attributable to social status or occupation. No systematic differences in these elements were found between interred and non-interred individuals. The effect of diagenesis on interpretations of life histories based on archaeological bone, therefore, are minimized by plotting element concentrations across cortical bone cross-sections.

Investigations of the relics and altar materials relating to the apostles St James and St Philip at the Basilica dei Santi XII Apostoli in Rome

“…St James was not exposed to Cu and was quite similar in Pb to many of the European skeletons. His bones appear low in Sr and low Ba concentrations, which-had he been a European-was indicative of a high social class with a meat-rich diet [89]. Again, the low concentration values make it less likely that the bone has been affected by diagenesis.…”

“…The CRI reaction system was activated for Fe and Cu because of interferences with polyatomic species produced by a combination of isotopes coming from the argon plasma, reagents, or the matrix. A mixture of 45 Sc, 89 Y, and 159 Tb was used as internal standard added to all analyses. The following isotopes were measured without skimmer gas:…”

Lead in Archeological Human Bones Reflecting Historical Changes in Lead Production

“…Metal content is known to depend on bone type. For example, there are large differences in the measured concentrations of certain metals in contemporary people between cortical bones and tooth enamel. , In addition, it was reported recently that variations in Pb and Ba concentrations are linked to bone microstructure . Given the lack of known standards for post-mortem diagenesis-indicative elements in petrous bones of modern people, we decided to use Ba/Ca ratios as indicators for diagenetic alteration, following Patterson’s and our own work. ,,, Lead normalized concentrations (Pb/Ca) versus Ba/Ca values (Figure ) show the same pattern of no correlation also reported by us in a recent study carried out on Iron Age individuals from the Levant, but with a different threshold for Ba/Ca addition by diagenetic processes .…”

Castration and emasculation in the Middle Age. The andrological conundrum of Peter Abelard

“…authorized, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) 81 performed for establishing or unraveling diet and social status of the deaths and finding trace elements of Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Sr, Ba, and Pb.…”

“…A study could be planned to establish the age of the specimens, the gender, the possible diseases, and the presence and degree of osteoporosis. For this purpose, the bones could be subjected to (i) microphotography of all samples; (ii) computed tomography (CT); (iii) dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) 77 ; (iv) near‐infrared spectroscopy for gauging the collagen content 78 ; (v) if authorized, radiocarbon dating 79 ; (vi) if authorized, ancient DNA analysis 80 ; (vii) if authorized, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) 81 performed for establishing or unraveling diet and social status of the deaths and finding trace elements of Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Sr, Ba, and Pb. Note that methods of the points (i)–(iv) do not need destruction of the samples, while methods (v)–(vii) are based on the destruction of micro‐fragments of the specimens, that is, about 1–2 mm (roughly, 1–40 mg), for each examination.…”