Abstract
The crystal structure of cremated bones recovered from archaeological sites is thought to be chemically stable after burial. Yet, understanding the constancy of elemental composition post-cremation and burial remains incomplete, potentially involving exchanges with the environment and leaching of endogenous trace elements. A Bos taurus femur was sectioned and burnt at controlled temperatures (250-700°C) and subsequently subjected to a simulated burial solution (comprising K, Mg, Al, Sr, Ba, Zn, Cl, Na at 10 ppm and Fe, Zr, Si, Ce, S, Mn at 1 ppm). The aim of this study was to mirror potential elemental introduction processes post-burning. Major and trace element concentrations pre- and post-burning and pre- and post-doping were determined using micro-X-ray fluorescence (µXRF) high-resolution element mapping and linescans (25 or 200 μm resolution from the inner trabecular surface towards the outer bone cortex), as well as bulk inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). These measurements were repeated following standard pretreatments procedures typically applied in preparation of the analysis of cremated bones for 14C dating and isotopic studies. Elemental mobility was simulated with a diffusion-advection model. Preliminary results indicate stability in major elements (Ca and P) in bone. Bone burnt up to 600°C displays uptake in Al, Mn, Zn, Sr, and Ba, not observed at 700°C. Conversely, Mg and Cl show an inverted pattern, while K and S demonstrate a tendency to leach out of bone. Thus, cremated bones not reaching calcination lack chemical stability, showing uptake and leaching of specific elements.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | UK Archaeological Sciences Conference |
Publication status | Published - 2024 |
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 105105 Geochemistry