A Lang Park mystery: Analysis of remains from a 19th century burial in Brisbane, Queensland

Haslam, Michael; Prangnell, Jonathan; Kirkwood, Luke; McKeough, Anthony; Murphy, Adrian; Loy, Thomas

doi:10.1080/03122417.2003.11681743

Cited by 8 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…These graves formed part of the North Brisbane Burial Grounds, The salvage team excavated 397 graves Haslam et al, 2003) from the Anglican, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic cemeteries. Twenty-five of these graves contained a mineral that turned blue on exposure to air.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The significance of vivianite in archaeological settings

McGowan

Prangnell

2005

Geoarchaeology

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Vivianite is a bluish mineral sometimes encountered in archaeological deposits. It is notable for its tendency to change color from white or grayish to blue on exposure to air. Vivianite requires specific conditions for its formation-sources of iron, phosphate, and water, as well as low levels of oxygen and sulfide. Microbial activity is also thought to play a part in vivianite formation. The majority of archaeological texts do not discuss vivianite to any great degree, preventing a more detailed interpretation of site conditions and features. Vivianite was found in 25 exhumed burials from the North Brisbane Burial Ground, Queensland, Australia. Research indicated that bone or tissue samples for DNA analysis are best taken from areas distant from vivianite encrustations and that presence of vivianite has implications for artifact conservation. Vivianite at the North Brisbane Burial Grounds helped protect some skeletal and dental elements, preserved the impressions of metal coffin lacing, and also corroborated the oral history of temporary waterlogging and acted as a measure of pollution levels across the site.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%