Isotope Studies of Ancient Lead

Brill, Robert H.; Wampler, Jesse Marion

doi:10.2307/501589

Cited by 175 publications

(88 citation statements)

References 4 publications

(4 reference statements)

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“…With the widespread recognition that chemical analysis had failed as an approach to determining the geological origin of the metal used to make metal objects, two research groups independently suggested that this objective might be achieved instead by the comparative lead isotope analysis of artefacts and metal ores (Brill and Wampler 1965;Grögler et al 1966). The Swiss group of Grögler et al did not pursue this line of research further, while Brill and his colleagues continued to publish lead isotope analyses of glass, coins and other metal objects but did not advance the subject significantly because they failed to accompany their work on artefacts with the sufficiently extensive lead isotope analyses of metal ores that is also necessary.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metal provenancing using isotopes and the Oxford archaeological lead isotope database (OXALID)

Stos-Gale¹,

Gale²

2009

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

220

102

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This paper reviews the research into the methodology of lead isotope provenance studies carried out at the University of Oxford between 1975 and, at first in the Department of Geology (Geological Age and Isotope Research Laboratory), later in the Isotrace Laboratory based in the Department of Nuclear Physics, and eventually part of the Research Laboratory of Archaeology and the History of Art. These 27 years of intensive work, funded initially by the Stiftung Volkswagenwerk, and later from numerous UK Government and Charitable funds and finally by the Institute of Aegean Prehistory laid the foundations of the lead isotope provenance methodology and resulted in a large database of analytical isotope and elemental results. In spite of the efforts of the authors, this database is still not comprehensively published or easily accessible in a digital format by all researchers interested in using this method for their projects. The possibilities of advancing this situation are discussed. The authors discuss in detail the basic restrictions and advantages of using the lead isotope compositions of ores in mineral deposits for finding the origin of the raw materials used for making ancient artefacts. Methods for the scientific interpretation of the data are discussed, including attempts to use statistical methods. The methodology of creating the Oxford lead isotope database (OXALID) is outlined and a summary is given of the lead isotope resource provided by OXALID.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metal provenancing using isotopes and the Oxford archaeological lead isotope database (OXALID)

Stos-Gale¹,

Gale²

2009

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

220

102

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“…Degryse et al 2009;Ponting et al 2003;Shortland 2006;Stos-Gale and Gale 2009;Stos-Gale et al 1997;Thibodeau et al 2007;Yener et al 1991). Among the first works of this nature one can cite those published by Brill et al (Brill and Wampler 1967;Brill et al 1987), and, especially relevant to the present study, Joel et al (1988), an early work focused on the Pb isotopic fingerprinting of majolica pottery in the Americas. Since these initial publications, several more projects on Pb isotope provenance of glazed ceramics have been conducted.…”

Section: Pb Isotopic Studies Of Colonial Ceramics and Provenance Studmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…These natural variations, therefore, make the Pb isotopic system an ideal candidate for constraining the potential provenance of geologic materials and the archaeological materials derived from them (e.g. Brill and Wampler 1967;Pollard et al 2007;Pollard 2009;Shortland 2006; Stos-Gale and Gale 2009 and references therein).…”

Section: Goals and Samplementioning

confidence: 99%

Pb Isotopic Composition of Panamanian Colonial Majolica by LA-ICP-MS

Iñañez

Bellucci

Martín

et al. 2016

Natural Science in Archaeology

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Panamá Viejo, founded in 1519 by the Spanish explorer Pedrarias Dávila, was the first permanent European settlement on the Pacific Ocean, and became a city, by royal decree, in 1521. Shortly after its creation, the city became an important base for trade with Spain. In 1671, the English pirate Henry Morgan waged an attack on Panamá Viejo, which resulted in a fire that destroyed the entire city. A new settlement built a few miles west, called Casco Antiguo or San Felipe, is now the historic district of modern Panama City. The Pb isotopic compositions of the glazes on the surface of sixteenth to seventeenth century majolica pottery sherds from Panama Viejo and Casco Antiguo (both in Panama), and Lima (Peru) were determined via non-destructive laser ablation multi-collector ICP-MS (LA-MC-ICP-MS). The contrast in Pb isotopic compositions in the glazes on ceramics recovered in different locations demonstrate that early majolica pottery production during this period used Pb obtained from the Andes. However, the Pb used in later majolica production in Panama is of Spanish origin. After Panamá Viejo was burned to the ground, Panamanian majolica production ended.

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“…The oldest Pb artifacts are dated to 8000 years ago in Anatolia and Pb has been extensively mined since then to produce many artefacts (see references in Lucas and Harris, 1962;Nriagu, 1983 (Doe, 1970). Consequently, ratios of Pb isotopes will vary according to the origin of Pb ores, used to manufacture metal artefacts (see references in Brill and Wampler, 1967;Gale andStos-Gale, 1982, 2000;Gale, 1982, 2009;Stos-Gale et al, 1996). These isotopic imprints can be used to reconstruct ancient human activities recorded in continental reservoirs, such as peatbogs and lacustrine sediments (see references in Shirahata et al, 1980;Renberg et al, 1994;Shotyk et al, 1998;Thevenon et al, 2011;Martinez Cortizas et al, 2012).…”

Section: Geochemistry Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Interdisciplinary characterisation and environmental imprints of mining and forestry in the upper Durance valley (France) during the Holocene

Véron

Édouard

et al. 2014

Quaternary International

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b s t r a c tThe upper Durance valley contains the largest silverelead mines of the French Southern Alps. We investigated the characterisation and impact of these mining activities and associated forestry in the Argentière (L'Argentière-La Bessée) and Faravel (Freissinières) districts using a multidisciplinary approach that includes archaeological, palynological, geochemical, anthracological and dendrochronological studies applied to mining remnants and a peat bog (Fangeas, in the Faravel district). More specifically, we studied the occurrence of lead contamination episodes, the chronology of mining activities and their link to the evolution in woodland cover. Our chronology is based on mining archaeology, radiocarbon dating of about thirty charcoal samples and the dendrochronological analysis of more than 170 specimens of exhumed waterlogged wood. The anthracological analysis was established with more than 10,000 charcoals from firesetting. The main geochemical approach was based on the analysis of lead and its stable isotopes in sediment fractions from a peat core. The combination of palynological records and lead isotope imprints were used to characterise (i) a Roman contamination episode unknown to archaeology, (ii) the development of medieval mining activities and (iii) the reactivation of mining during the Modern period and the Industrial Revolution. Medieval mining coincides with an extension of the high mountain agropastoral areas. The in situ continuous human activities in the same industrial territory led to rational communal management of subalpine forests, but also to their parcelling that reached its peak in the High Middle Ages. Mining during the Modern period coincides with significant stress on woodland areas that also appears to be related to lumber and fuel timber production for shipyards (French Royal Navy) as well as the functioning of several military fortresses. The mining reactivation during the 19th c. matched public measures of forest protection that took shape in the afforestation programme of the uplands.

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Isotope Studies of Ancient Lead

Cited by 175 publications

References 4 publications

Metal provenancing using isotopes and the Oxford archaeological lead isotope database (OXALID)

Metal provenancing using isotopes and the Oxford archaeological lead isotope database (OXALID)

Pb Isotopic Composition of Panamanian Colonial Majolica by LA-ICP-MS

Interdisciplinary characterisation and environmental imprints of mining and forestry in the upper Durance valley (France) during the Holocene

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