Lead concentrations in bones and soil

Lead concentrations were measured in 41 rib samples from the Romano-British cemetery at Poundbury and in two sets of soil samples from the graves yielding up the bones. The levels of lead in the soil were in no way exceptional (means for the two series were 16·7 and 24·8 μg/g dry weight) and there was no correlation between soil lead and bone lead concentrations.Since bone lead concentrations vary independently of those in the soil, it is unlikely that the bones are contaminated by lead in the soil, at least under the conditions prevailing at this particular site.     

Lead isotope ratios: Tracking the migration of European‐Americans to Grafton,Illinois in the 19th century

Lead isotope analysis was conducted using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP‐MS) instruments on local soil samples and human premolar tooth enamel from a 19th century population from Grafton, Illinois, USA. The goal of the study was to determine if lead isotope analysis could be used to infer place of birth and patterns of 19th century migration into the city of Grafton. Five soil core samples from a location near Grafton, Illinois, five grave soil samples from the city cemetery and the tooth enamel of 19 human premolars were analysed. The results of the soil core analysis indicated that the lead isotopic signature of Grafton differs significantly from isotope ratios of other geographic areas associated with recorded places of birth of 19th century Jersey County residents. Elemental and isotope analysis of the soil samples indicated that diagenesis was not a factor in the analysis of lead isotopic signatures of enamel. From the lead isotope analysis of human premolars, the geographic origin of 13 of the remaining 15 individuals could be inferred. The inferred geographic origin was supplemented by an analysis of 1860 mortality and census records and demonstrated the utility of using lead isotope analysis in bio‐archaeological investigations. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Soil Chemical Analysis Applied as an Interpretive Tool for Ancient Human Activities in Piedras Negras,Guatemala

The applicability of soil chemical analysis to the interpretation of ancient human activity areas in the Maya region was studied for potential implications in anthropogenically modified soils. We studied chemical signatures associated with a horizontally excavated site in Piedras Negras, Guatemala. The focus of this study is on soil phosphate and trace metals as indicators of ancient activity. We compared total phosphate with Mehlich extractable phosphate to see which method was superior. We also compared total (nitric-perchloric) digestion with the DTPA extraction procedure of heavy metal determination to resolve which method most accurately indicates ancient activity areas. We used principal component analysis to compare the metals and give probable locations of ancient activities. Statistical analysis of chemical patterns indicated possible areas of food preparation and craft production as well as sweeping patterns. We found that elevated phosphate, barium and manganese levels indicate areas of organic refuse disposal. Mercury and lead concentrations indicate areas of craft production. These observations are compared with the artifact data. We were also able to determine areas associated with similar activities using chemical analysis. The comparison of the total and extractable element analysis demonstrated that both methods yield important information regarding activity areas. However, because of the resolution obtained, convenience, economy, and safety, we suggest the extractable DTPA and Mehlich methods.     

浙江余姚田螺山遗址室内与现场加固试验研究

田螺山遗址是我国第一处实行原址保护和展示的南方古遗址,发掘后打破了遗址原来所处的稳定环境,导致遗址出现了一些病害。为了使得该遗址较好地保存下去,本文分析了该遗址土壤的理化性质,在此基础上,选用CB材料对该遗址土样进行了室内及现场加固试验。加固前后土样耐水性、PH值及强度等表征的对比表明,加固后的土样具有较好的耐水性,抗剪强度参数粘聚力有明显的增大,从而增加了土壤颗粒之间的粘聚力。现场小面积加固试验表明,保持了遗址原貌,渗透性好,未见表面开裂现象,同时强度也有很大的提高。     

THE ORIGIN of METAL OBJECTS FROM the EARLY BRONZE AGE SITE of THERMI ON the ISLAND of LESBOS

Summary: Lead isotope analysis of metal are deposits in the Mediterranean provides an important database for provenance studies of ancient metal artefacts. the Isotrace laboratory at Oxford has accumulated during the past decade well over 2000 lead isotope data on copper and lead ores and these data (in addition to analyses published by other groups) can be used for comparisons with lead isotope compositions of ancient metal objects. In a search for the roots of Early Bronze Age metallurgy in Europe we have analysed 34 copper-based objects from the Early Bronze Age strata of the town of Thermi on the Aegean island of Lesbos. the results of lead isotope analysis show that the metal objects on this site have a quite varied origin. Some of the objects are made of copper consistent with an origin from the mineral deposits of the Troad whilst others might be made of copper from the Cyclades. However, there are also some objects which are not made of copper from any of the Aegean deposits. These imports have later parallels on the site of Kastri on Syros and amongst the objects excavated by Schliemann at Troy.     

Design Earthquake Ground Motion Prediction for Perth Metropolitan Area with Microtremor Measurements for Site Characterization

Perth is the largest city in Western Australia and home to three-quarters of the state's residents. In recent decades, there have been a lot of earthquake activities just east of Perth in an area known as the South-West Seismic Zone. Previous numerical results of site response analyses based on limited available geology information for PMA indicated that Perth Basin might amplify the bedrock motion by more than 10 times at some frequencies and at some sites. Hence, more detailed studies on site characterization and amplification are necessary. The microtremor method using spatial autocorrelation (SPAC) processing is a useful tool for gaining thickness and shear wave velocity (SWV) of sediments and has been adopted in many previous studies. In this study, the response spectrum of rock site corresponding to the 475-year return period for PMA is defined according to the probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) based on the latest ground motion attenuation model of Southwest Western Australia. Site characterization in PMA is performed using two microtremor measurements, namely SPAC technique and H/V method. The clonal selection algorithm (CSA) is introduced to perform direct inversion of SPAC curves to determine the soil profiles of representative PMA sites investigated in this study. Using the simulated bedrock motion as input, the responses of the soil sites are estimated using numerical method based on the shear-wave velocity vs. depth profiles determined from the SPAC technique. The response spectrum of the earthquake ground motion on surface of each site is derived from the numerical results of the site response analysis, and compared with the respective design spectrum defined in the Australian Earthquake Loading Code. The comparison shows that the code spectra are conservative in the short period range, but may slightly underestimate the response spectrum at some long period range.     

The multivariate statistical analysis and XRD analysis of pottery at Xigongqiao site

A series of pottery samples excavated from the Xigongqiao site in Tengzhou city of Shandong province was determined using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Together with excavation data and archaeological analysis, the potential for provenance and technology of unearthed ancient pottery was studied by using multivariate statistical analysis and X-ray powder diffraction pattern (XRD) analysis. In order to characterize and classify these earthenware samples, the major and minor/trace element concentrations were studied with both cluster analysis and principal component analysis. The results showed that there were three different groups in cluster analysis dendrogram in good correlation with their colors. This indicated that the potteries were made from clays of different composition. These results were in agreement with the results of principal component analysis. XRD analysis further assessed the validity of multivariate statistical analysis.     

Croatian Appoxiomenos alloy composition and lead provenance study

An ancient bronze statue of an athlete with a strigil (known as Apoxiomenos) – was raised from the north Adriatic Sea in 1999. In order to help to determine its place and date of manufacture various scientific techniques were used. ¹⁴C dating performed by the Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) on the organic material found inside the statue gave calibrated dates between 100 B.C. and 250 A.D. Non-destructive analysis performed by portable X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) system and external beam Particle Induced X-Ray Emission (PIXE) spectroscopy could not provide representative results for metal alloy composition due to the electrochemical deterioration of the surface of bronze in seawater. This was observed by the analysis of alloy cross-sections performed by the proton microprobe. The analysis showed much higher lead concentrations on the surface of the bronze than inside, confirming that realistic alloy composition can be only performed on samples taken from at least 0.6 mm below the surface. Subsequent micro-PIXE analysis on metal cross-section showed inhomogeneous lead concentrations between 1 and 12%. Lead isotope analysis for provenance investigation has been done on 15 samples using Multi Collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS). Analysis showed that lead isotope composition is consistent with some of the lead ores originating either from the Eastern Alps or from Sardinia. Altogether, the results lead to the conclusion that the statue is not of a Greek origin, but most probable it is a Roman copy of the Greek original.     

A palynological and geoarchaeological investigation into Bronze Age farming at Belderg Beg,Co. Mayo,Ireland

This contribution describes the results and interpretations of geoarchaeological and palynological analyses of a soil profile near to a ¹⁴C dated Bronze Age roundhouse in a sub-peat field system at Belderg Beg, north Mayo in western Ireland, which displayed field-scale evidence of tillage in the form of cultivation ridges. This evidence of arable cultivation was supported by the presence of quernstones in the roundhouse, but there was no supporting evidence from other forms of socio-economic analysis. Soil micromorphological analysis was employed to define how the ridges were created and with what tools; pollen analysis was used to characterise the surface vegetation and test the purpose of the ridges. The results unequivocally showed that a phase of ard cultivation was followed after a brief hiatus by ridge-and-furrow tillage. There were tentative indications of possible amendment of the earlier, ard-worked soil, and more definitive evidence of midden material addition to the ridged soil. An AMS radiocarbon assay on the base of peat overlying the ridges indicated that tillage occurred in the Mid to Late Bronze Age.     

对大型土遗址的植物病害研究——以西安阿房宫遗址为例

在植物对土遗址作用的研究中,鲜有就真实的遗址来展开调查,以及讨论植物给土遗址带来的负作用及其机理。为此,本研究选取西安地区大型土遗址秦阿房宫为研究对象,利用现场调查结合样带法、图像分析法并采集土样,开展对遗址区植物分布、根系产生的裂隙和土壤环境的研究。结果表明:造成土遗址病害现象的主要原因为植物根系作用,加之雨蚀、风化作用及人为破坏的叠加作用,使遗址保存面临严重威胁;其中酸枣、臭椿等萌生树种所产生的根劈裂隙及植物根系对土壤环境的影响十分明显。现存土遗址由植物以及风雨作用而引发的主要病害,其类型包含了边缘夯土的基础掏蚀、洞穴遗存、开裂坍塌、冲沟发育、表面剥蚀,这些是阿房宫遗址面临的主要威胁,也是半干旱地区土遗址存在的特有问题。研究结果既有助于揭示植被对土遗址的作用机理,又能为土遗址保护的植物选择提供理论依据和技术支撑。     

Estimation of temperatures beneath archaeological campfires using carbon stable isotope composition of soil organic matter

An Inceptisol and an Alfisol from Western Maryland were sampled by horizon and exposed to the elevated temperatures associated with heat transfer measured beneath campfires. Substantial loss in organic carbon and change in carbon stable isotope composition was observed, even after exposure to relatively low temperatures (200–400 °C). Analyses showed that a comparison of carbon isotope enrichment in organic matter beneath a suspected campfire site to that of unaltered soil would give quantitative information about the minimum effective campfire temperature. Application of these results may lead to particular insight for archaeological sites where soil surfaces have been eroded or otherwise truncated.     

PARTICLE SIZE AND PHOSPHATE ANALYSIS-EVIDENCE FOR THE EVOLUTION OF A TELL

Soil samples were collected from a deep sounding through the centre of a tell, 11 m in height, at Sitagroi in north-eastern Greece. These samples were analysed for particle size and total phosphate in order to elucidate the formation of the tell. The phosphate results, though very varied, indicated that the tell evolved entirely as a result of occupation of the site. It is proposed that the main process of accumulation was from house collapse and that local alluvium was used for house construction. A similarity is shown between local alluvium, a remnant of a house wall and most of the samples from the deep sounding. Pearson type 1 curves are fitted to the particle size data and this permits a grouping of soil samples. Some of the divisions between the groups coincide not only with occupation phase changes but also with localized lower phosphate contents. Two periods of site abandonment are suggested.     

柘皋河流域商周时期古遗址形态特征初步研究

结合相关文献资料对柘皋河流域商周时期遗址野外考察,辅以高分辨率遥感资料等对流域内遗迹形态要素、平面特征、微地貌形态等分析,经钻孔获取遗迹点垂直剖面资料分析,采集相关含碳土样进行测年分析,从形状、位置、面积、微地貌、内部结构特征、土质特征、与古水系关系等指标来分析柘皋河流域商周晚期遗址点形态特征,探究遗址点形态特征的形成原因。     

模拟壁画墓葬中的微环境分析研究

墓葬壁画经考古发掘后,墓室内原有的稳定环境被打破,在微环境不断变化的作用下产生各种不同的病害。为探究微环境变化规律,在陕西师范大学模拟壁画墓室内对空气温湿度、土壤温度、土壤含水率及土壤电导率等进行长期监测。结果表明,外部环境的改变对墓室内部微环境的变化具有一定的影响,距墓底高度越高,其土壤温度、含水率变化幅度越大,越易产生酥粉等病害。利用离子色谱仪、X射线衍射仪(XRD)等仪器对土壤易溶盐进行定性与定量分析,结果表明土壤中各种阴、阳离子含量与土壤埋深深度呈正相关关系;土壤表面析出盐分主要以硫酸钠和硫酸钙为主,在微环境的不断变化下,易产生酥碱等病害。对壁画墓葬微环境进行系统研究,为有效调控墓室微环境提出合理的对策,以期为原址保护提供更多的科学依据。     

The Difficult Place of Deserted Coasts in Archaeology: New Archaeological Research on Cooks Beach (Pukaki), Coromandel Peninsula,New Zealand

Sites which have been occupied semi-continuously in the past present some inherent difficulties for archaeology. Here we present new research from a coastal site on the North Island of New Zealand at Cooks Beach where anthropogenic vegetation changes are seen using microfossil analysis of obsidian tools, sediments and pit fill. The results indicate the initial presence of people in AD 1300–1400 followed by subsequent periods of disuse or abandonment and sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) cultivation. Around the time of initial settlement, obsidian from this location is found at sites across the country. After AD 1400 the area appears to be deserted for a century or more, after which we see evidence for the cultivation of sweet potato in AD 1500 as evidenced by extensive soil modification and numerous storage pits. There is no evidence of a permanent settlement at the site. The geographic distribution of Cooks Beach obsidian was constricted while the site was used for sweet potato cultivation, a pattern often attributed to increased warfare. It appears cultivation was abandoned after AD 1650 marking a second secession of use, a fact confirmed in AD 1769 when Captain Cook visited the area. We consider the possible drivers for the late abandonment of cultivation at Cooks Beach.     

Elevated lead exposure in Roman occupants of Londinium: New evidence from the archaeological record

The evolution of metallurgical practices over several millennia has resulted in human exposures to a diverse variety of toxic elements. These exposures were not just confined to the metalworkers, but in many cases broadly impacted the larger community and society. The role of lead in Roman civilization is particularly fascinating, where the available evidence of lead use in a myriad of applications by Roman civilization suggests the potential for elevated exposures. The present paper addresses the hypothesis that because of these practices, Roman occupants of ancient Londinium (43–410 ad ) were exposed to levels of lead that far exceeded exposures in the preceding populations of Iron Age Britain (700 bc –43 ad ). The elemental content and stable lead and strontium isotopic signatures of 30 femora from three Londinium cemeteries and radiocarbon-dated representative burials were examined and the results then compared with 70 femora dating to the pre-Roman Iron Age from the well-known Iron Age hillfort of Danebury, Hampshire, and from three cemeteries in East Yorkshire. Extensive efforts were directed at the minimization of sediment and soil contamination, the assessment of contamination from burial artefacts and a careful review of the burial context of specimens. Data for lead and 20 additional trace and major elements were obtained by magnetic sector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS), after acid dissolution of pre-cleaned bone cores. Lead isotope ratios in the bone core digests (and burial soils) were measured by multi-collector ICPMS. It was found that concentrations of lead in the Roman/Londinium-era femora were > 70-fold greater than those from pre-Roman populations. This was confirmed by femoral data obtained from the analysis of a pre-Roman burial from the early first century bc found adjacent to the Southern Cemetery. Several major and trace element metrics for diagenesis demonstrate that levels of lead in the bone are robust indicators of human exposure during life. Lead isotope data for the Roman population are consistent with previously identified widespread lead pollution. The pre-Roman populations contain lead isotopic compositions consistent with highly localized, minor sources of lead. Together, these data provide unequivocal confirmation that the Romans in Londinium were exposed to elevated lead levels. Elevated blood lead levels would have resulted, negatively affecting their health and possibly contributing to declining birth rates.     

SOIL DAMPING FORMULATION IN NONLINEAR TIME DOMAIN SITE RESPONSE ANALYSIS

Nonlinear time domain site response analysis is used to capture the soil hysteretic response and nonlinearity due to medium and large ground motions. Soil damping is captured primarily through the hysteretic energy dissipating response. Viscous damp-ing, using the Rayleigh damping formulation, is often added to represent damping at very small strains where many soil models are primarily linear. The Rayleigh damping formulation results in frequency dependent damping, in contrast to experiments that show that the damping of soil is mostly frequency independent. Artificially high damp-ing is introduced outside a limited frequency range that filters high frequency ground motion. The extended Rayleigh damping formulation is introduced to reduce the over-damping at high frequencies. The formulation reduces the filtering of high frequency motion content when examining the motion Fourier spectrum. With appropriate choice of frequency range, both formulations provide a similar response when represented by the 5% damped elastic response spectrum.

The proposed formulations used in non-linear site response analysis show that the equivalent linear frequency domain solution commonly used to approximate non-linear site response underestimates surface ground motion within a period range relevant to engineering applications. A new guideline is provided for the use of the proposed formulations in non-linear site response analysis.     

Ancient copper and lead pollution records from a raised bog complex in Central Wales,UK

This paper presents records of metal deposition as preserved by a peatland which has accumulated in the lowland coastal zone at Borth, near Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, mid-Wales, U.K. The research objective was to explore the origins and history of metal mining and (or) metallurgy by reconstructing a geochemical record of copper, lead and zinc pollution for the last four millennia. Two cores were extracted from Borth Bog, one from the raised ombrotrophic part of the bog and another from a minerotrophic part of Borth Bog close to the ancient copper workings at Llancynfelin. Although peat stratigraphy and nutrient status have influenced the geochemical record, the results suggest that an early phase of copper and lead pollution occurred at Llancynfelin whilst lead enrichment occurred in the peat core taken close to the centre of Borth Bog during the Bronze Age and the Roman occupation. Therefore the origins of copper and lead mining and metallurgy possibly extend back to the Bronze Age in central Wales. No record of historical pollution exists at either site. The results of this study also provide further evidence that lead and copper are immobile in ombrotrophic peat and that pollution records can be elucidated from minerotrophic peat. Zinc, however, may have suffered from post-depositional mobility.     

PREHISTORIC CULTURE,CLIMATE AND AGRICULTURE AT YUCHISI,ANHUI PROVINCE,CHINA

A palaeoculture sediment profile from the Yuchisi site, Mengcheng County of Anhui Province, China, was sampled to study the concentrations of elements, total carbon content, grain size and pollen percentages, to reveal information on food supply based on statistical analysis of elements between 5050 cal. yr bp and 4000 cal. yr bp . The variations in the reconstructed food supply and pollen percentages are in good agreement with the results of other archaeological methods. The results from pollen and element analyses indicate that the Longshan Culture at the Yuchisi site was not developed from the local Dawenkou Culture, and the cultural transition corresponds with an extremely dry event, which may have caused the change.     

利用同墓葬出土泥芯、陶器示踪青同器铸造地初探 一以湖北襄樊部分东周墓为例

为研究出土墓葬青铜器铸造地,利用X射线荧光光谱法对湖北襄樊的余岗、沈岗、团山、陈坡四处墓地出土的部分青铜器泥芯、陶片进行测试分析,试验结果与山西侯马、武汉盘龙城遗址进行比较分析。对比研究显示,襄樊地区泥芯与当地墓土、陶片在常量元素上具有高度一致性,而与黄河流域的侯马和长江中下游的盘龙城有明显区别,说明襄樊地区这部分铜器应为本地铸造,暗示江汉流域存在自己特有文化。本项研究工作首次尝试利用同墓葬陶器化学成分探索青铜器铸造地,是泥芯研究青铜器铸造地的重要补充,泥芯和陶器相互配合,为青铜器铸造地研究提供了一种新思路。