COPPER AND BARIUM AS DIETARY DISCRIMINANTS: THE EFFECTS OF DIAGENESIS

J. B. LAMBERT; S. V. SIMPSON; C. B. SZPUNAR; J. E. BUIKSTRA

doi:10.1111/j.1475-4754.1984.tb00328.x

COPPER AND BARIUM AS DIETARY DISCRIMINANTS: THE EFFECTS OF DIAGENESIS

J. B. LAMBERT, S. V. SIMPSON, C. B. SZPUNAR, J. E. BUIKSTRA

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

In skeletons excavated from Woodland sites, copper and barium levels are found to have been contaminated by influx from the soil environment. Electron microprobe scans for both elements show build‐up along the outer surface of femur cross sections. Elemental levels for Cu and Ba are lower in the femur or fibula than in the more porous rib. The distribution of Cu in the immediately surrounding soil is highly anisotropic. These observations indicate that Cu and Ba should not be used for dietary inferences about ancient populations without independent evidence that diagenesis is not important.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	131-138
Number of pages	8
Journal	Archaeometry
Volume	26
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4754.1984.tb00328.x
State	Published - Aug 1984
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

History
Archaeology

Access to Document

10.1111/j.1475-4754.1984.tb00328.x

Cite this

@article{4b656f63a8ac42f8b5dea73786b79b4d,

title = "COPPER AND BARIUM AS DIETARY DISCRIMINANTS: THE EFFECTS OF DIAGENESIS",

abstract = "In skeletons excavated from Woodland sites, copper and barium levels are found to have been contaminated by influx from the soil environment. Electron microprobe scans for both elements show build‐up along the outer surface of femur cross sections. Elemental levels for Cu and Ba are lower in the femur or fibula than in the more porous rib. The distribution of Cu in the immediately surrounding soil is highly anisotropic. These observations indicate that Cu and Ba should not be used for dietary inferences about ancient populations without independent evidence that diagenesis is not important.",

author = "LAMBERT, {J. B.} and SIMPSON, {S. V.} and SZPUNAR, {C. B.} and BUIKSTRA, {J. E.}",

year = "1984",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1111/j.1475-4754.1984.tb00328.x",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "26",

pages = "131--138",

journal = "Archaeometry",

issn = "0003-813X",

publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",

number = "2",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - COPPER AND BARIUM AS DIETARY DISCRIMINANTS

T2 - THE EFFECTS OF DIAGENESIS

AU - LAMBERT, J. B.

AU - SIMPSON, S. V.

AU - SZPUNAR, C. B.

AU - BUIKSTRA, J. E.

PY - 1984/8

Y1 - 1984/8

N2 - In skeletons excavated from Woodland sites, copper and barium levels are found to have been contaminated by influx from the soil environment. Electron microprobe scans for both elements show build‐up along the outer surface of femur cross sections. Elemental levels for Cu and Ba are lower in the femur or fibula than in the more porous rib. The distribution of Cu in the immediately surrounding soil is highly anisotropic. These observations indicate that Cu and Ba should not be used for dietary inferences about ancient populations without independent evidence that diagenesis is not important.

AB - In skeletons excavated from Woodland sites, copper and barium levels are found to have been contaminated by influx from the soil environment. Electron microprobe scans for both elements show build‐up along the outer surface of femur cross sections. Elemental levels for Cu and Ba are lower in the femur or fibula than in the more porous rib. The distribution of Cu in the immediately surrounding soil is highly anisotropic. These observations indicate that Cu and Ba should not be used for dietary inferences about ancient populations without independent evidence that diagenesis is not important.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84985720126&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84985720126&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1111/j.1475-4754.1984.tb00328.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1475-4754.1984.tb00328.x

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84985720126

SN - 0003-813X

VL - 26

SP - 131

EP - 138

JO - Archaeometry

JF - Archaeometry

IS - 2

ER -

COPPER AND BARIUM AS DIETARY DISCRIMINANTS: THE EFFECTS OF DIAGENESIS

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this