Analysis of human teeth and bones from the chalcolithic period by X-ray spectrometry

Carvalho, Luísa; Casaca, C.; Pinheiro, Teresa; Marques, J. P.; Chevallier, Pierre; Cunha, Albino

doi:10.1016/s0168-583x(00)00049-5

Cited by 66 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…2). A study on human teeth and bones from Chalcolithic burials in the cave of Lapa da Furada (Sesimbra, Portugal) revealed a high concentration of bromine (Br) and strontium (Sr), what speaks for a diet rich in sea-food (Carvalho et al 2000). Cardoso (1995b) identified big globular stones with central groove from Leceia and other Chalcolithic sites in Portugal as net sinkers for fishing.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The use of sperm whale ivory in Chalcolithic Portugal

Schuhmacher¹,

Banerjee²,

Dindorf³

et al. 2013

Trab. prehist.

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Scientific analysis were undertaken within a research project concerning ivory objects from the Chalcolithic to Early Bronze Age of the Iberian Peninsula. In several of the analyses of objects from Portuguese Estremadura, especially V-perforated buttons, we could detect for the first time the presence of sperm whale ivory. This highlights the advantage and necessity of scientific analysis of ivory. It also clearly demonstrates that not all ivory used was ivory from African or Asian elephants, but we also did find ivory from the extinct Elephas antiquus, the hippopotamus and in this case sperm-whale. Thus, already in the Chalcolithic the raw material provenience was highly diverse, which in the absence of scientific analysis might lead to an erroneous interpretation of prehistoric exchange networks. Different methods, including optical microscopy, measurement of hardness and specific gravity, Micro-Raman Spectroscopy, elemental analysis and Isotopic Ratio Mass Spectrometry have been applied. In this paper we present these methods and the results, and we discuss about the implications of these results for the reconstruction of prehistoric economy and life in this region. Finally, taking into account the natural conditions as well as prehistoric and historic data of whale hunting and scavenging of beached animals, we conclude that the most plausible explanation for the presence of sperm whale ivory in Chalcolithic Portugal is the use of the teeth obtained from stranded animals. This interpretation is possible because of the human populations using this ivory are those living close to the sea and exploiting – among others– marine resources.

En el marco de un proyecto de investigación sobre objetos de marfil del Calcolítico al Bronce Antiguo en la Península Ibérica efectuamos análisis científicos. En varios de los objetos de la Estremadura portuguesa, en especial en los botones con perforación en V, detectamos por primera vez la presencia de marfil de cachalote. Así se demuestra claramente la ventaja y la necesidad de efectuar análisis científicos del marfil. No todo el marfil utilizado provenía de los elefantes africanos y asiáticos. Además encontramos marfil del desaparecido Elephas antiquus, de hipopótamo, y en este caso de cachalote. Así ya en el Calcolítico el origen de la materia prima era muy diverso, lo que en ausencia de análisis científicos puede conducir a una errónea interpretación de las redes prehistóricas de intercambio. Los métodos empleados fueron la microscopia óptica, la medición de la dureza y del peso específico, la espectroscopía Micro-Raman, el análisis elemental y la espectrometría isotópica de masas. En este trabajo presentamos estos métodos y los resultados. Además discutimos sus consecuencias para la reconstrucción de la economía y la vida de las sociedades prehistóricas de la región. Teniendo en cuenta las condiciones naturales y los datos prehistóricos e históricos sobre la caza de ballenas y el aprovechamiento de animales varados consideramos que la explicación más plausible de la ...

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The use of sperm whale ivory in Chalcolithic Portugal

Schuhmacher¹,

Banerjee²,

Dindorf³

et al. 2013

Trab. prehist.

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“…Pb or Fe, can increase in tissue postmortem by intake from soil. (6,7) Others, e.g. Zn, Co, or Sr, can be present as a result of antemortem processes, e.g.…”

Section: Tissuesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(84 -86) The determination of trace elements and their quantities in tissues has therefore proven to provide helpful information regarding dietary habits, environmental influence, possible intoxication, and diseases. (6,7,84,86,87) XRF with its capability to detect trace elements simultaneously at very low concentrations, straightforward sample preparation, and limited sample size required is particularly suitable for samples of human origin. (84) Hard tissues, i.e.…”

Section: Tissuesmentioning

confidence: 99%

X‐Ray Fluorescence in Forensic ScienceUpdate based on the original article by Claude Roux and Chris Lennard,Encyclopedia of Analytical Chemistry, © 2000, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Roux

Taudte

Lennard

2013

Encyclopedia of Analytical Chemistry

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This article describes the applications of X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) as an analytical tool in forensic science, including its limitations and practical aspects. The use of XRF is specifically discussed for the analysis of materials of forensic interest such as metals, gunshot residues (GSRs), paint, glass, soil, fibers, plastic and general polymers, documents, and miscellaneous types of evidence. Developments such as biological tissues micro‐XRF, 3‐D micro‐XRF — an adaptation of micro‐XRF — and total XRF are also described. These specialized techniques have highly desirable characteristics for the elemental profiling of a wide range of forensic samples, and hence we can anticipate that they will find significant use in forensic laboratories in the future.

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“…Further techniques include the mechanical (grinding, drilling) or chemical (acid dissolution) separation of successive enamel layers and their posterior analysis [31]. For many years, these layers have been studied by modern analytical techniques, such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF) [31], particle (proton)-induced X-ray emission spectroscopy (PIXE) [32] or secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) [33]. Very few researchers have used photonic techniques for this purpose [34][35][36].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

After bleaching enamel remineralization using a bioactive glass-ceramic (BioSilicate®)

Rastelli¹,

Nicolodelli²,

Romano³

et al. 2016

Biomedical Glasses

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Tooth bleaching agents may weaken the tooth structure, therefore, it is important to minimize any risks of enamel and dentine damage caused by them. In this way, different materials have been used to avoid or minimize the tooth damage during bleaching. Recently, bioactive glasses have been demonstrated to be effective in mineralization of dental structures. Therefore, this study evaluated the effect of BioSilicate (a polycrystalline bioactive glass-ceramic) after bleaching by Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique. Bovine dental blocks with 4 × 4 × 3 mm were obtained (n = 20), sequentially embedded in epoxy resin and then polished. Bleaching was performed using 35% hydrogen peroxide (Whiteness HP). Calcium (Ca) and phosphate (P) intensity values by LIBS were obtained before the treatment (T0, baselinecontrol Group), after bleaching (T1), and after BioSilicate application (T2). The use of BioSilicate after bleaching showed to be an optimal way to remineralize enamel surface making BioSilicate application a promising adjunct step to avoid or minimize the mineral loss on enamel surface after bleaching.

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Analysis of human teeth and bones from the chalcolithic period by X-ray spectrometry

Cited by 66 publications

References 22 publications

The use of sperm whale ivory in Chalcolithic Portugal

The use of sperm whale ivory in Chalcolithic Portugal

X‐Ray Fluorescence in Forensic ScienceUpdate based on the original article by Claude Roux and Chris Lennard,Encyclopedia of Analytical Chemistry, © 2000, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

After bleaching enamel remineralization using a bioactive glass-ceramic (BioSilicate®)

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