Invertebrates of ancient heavy metal spoil and smelting tip sites in southern Jordan: Their distribution and use as bioindicators of metalliferous pollution derived from ancient sources

Abstract

The invertebrate populations of stony desert sites contaminated by ancient metalliferous activities in the Nabatean, Roman and Byzantine periods were significantly different from those found in adjacent ancient abandoned field systems. Consequently, it is apparent that such invertebrates potentially have uses as biomonitors of metalliferous pollution derived from ancient anthropogenic activities. This is further explored by an analysis of the heavy metal content of certain of these animals; extensive bioaccumulation of copper and especially lead occurred in organisms inhabiting areas associated with ancient metalliferous enterprises.

Geochemistry as an aid in archaeological prospection and site interpretation: current issues and research directions

“…This reduces the likeliness of such elements being present in high concentrations in occupation waste and in archaeological soils. The abundance of trace metals in archaeological soils, however, can be explained by specific inputs from, for instance, the processing of metals (Maskall and Thornton, 1998;Pyatt et al, 1999Pyatt et al, , 2002De Vleeschouwer et al, 2007;Navarro et al, 2008). Trace element sequestration by mineral and organic soil components is also likely to occur (see e.g.…”

Environmental impacts of ancient copper mining and metallurgy: Multi-proxy investigation of human-landscape dynamics in the Faynan valley, southern Jordan

“…Invertebrate samples were collected from sites throughout the Faynan valley, in metallurgical debris contexts, agricultural fields, and control sites away from mining and smelting. The results reported by Pyatt et al (2002aPyatt et al ( : 60, 2000 indicate that modern-day invertebrates collected from the agricultural fields had similar concentrations of Pb as the control samples collected from a site 2 km away from Khirbat Faynan, while invertebrates collected from the waste piles had up to twice the Pb concentration (Pyatt et al, 2002a: 60). Vegetation was likewise collected from both metallurgical waste and control contexts, with only those samples collected from metallurgical waste contexts showing signs of Pb contamination (Pyatt et al, 2000: 774).…”

Intensidad e intensificación en la primera minería y metalurgia del cobre especializada de la Península Ibérica (III milenio a.n.e.): la identificación arqueológica de un proceso regional de deforestación y polución

“…Para evaluarla, seleccionamos una metodología ya contrastada de análisis paleobotánicos (palinología/antracología) (Carrión, 2002; Carrión y Scott, 1999;Mighall, 2003) Esta metodología, aunque novedosa, es equiparable a otros modelos de bioacumulación de metales pesados ensayados en plantas, animales y seres humanos, cuyos resultados han sido contrastados (Grattan, Huxley y Pyatt, 2000; Pyatt et al, 1999Pyatt et al, , 2000Pyatt et al, , 2002Pyatt et al, , 2005. Para ello se precisa un conjunto de muestras malacológicas marinas recurrentes (en diversos sitios…”

“…Esta metodología, aunque novedosa, es equiparable a otros modelos de bioacumulación de metales pesados ensayados en plantas, animales y seres humanos, cuyos resultados han sido contrastados (Grattan, Huxley y Pyatt, 2000;Pyatt et al, 1999Pyatt et al, , 2000Pyatt et al, , 2002Pyatt et al, , 2005. Para ello se precisa un conjunto de muestras malacológicas marinas recurrentes (en diversos sitios arqueológicos), numerosas (para ensayar variaciones estacionales), de una misma especie (para que la asimilación de los metales pesados se adecue a un mismo patrón), secuenciadas cronológicamente (C 14 ) y bien contextualizadas en niveles de consumo alimentario (para asegurar su representatividad cronométrica) (Nieto, Nocete y Sáez, 2001).…”