Article
Anthropology
Zhenfei Sun, Siran Liu, Ji Zhang, Kunlong Chen, Brett Kaufman
Summary: This research develops an innovative method for interpreting lead isotope data of bronze artifacts, revealing the complex metal circulation system in the Zhou period of China. The study finds that there was a significant diachronic change in metal resources, with different regions of China serving as major metal sources in different periods. The research also demonstrates the potential of the new methodology in studying metal mixing history in other cultural contexts.
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Guoru Wei, Chunlai Zhang, Qing Li, Hongtao Wang, Rende Wang, Yajing Zhang, Yixiao Yuan
Summary: Northern China has 12 main deserts that can be divided into western, central, and eastern deserts. Physical weathering is more prominent in the western and central deserts, while chemical weathering is more prominent in the eastern deserts. Most major trace elements are more depleted in the eastern deserts compared to the western deserts, but moderately depleted in the central deserts. The potential source rocks of the central and western deserts are composed of intermediate igneous rocks, while the sediments in the eastern deserts are derived from the mixing of different types of rocks.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Daniele Ziegler, Mery Malandrino, Claudia Barolo, Gianpiero Adami, Milena Sacco, Francesco Pitasi, Ornella Abollino, Agnese Giacomino
Summary: This study evaluated the contribution of a municipal solid waste incinerator to PM10 concentration and chemical composition in Turin, confirming that newly installed incinerators have a lower impact on atmospheric PM10 composition. Direct incinerator emissions were found to influence the concentrations of several heavy metal elements significantly.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Micha Horacek
Summary: The geographic origin of salt is considered unimportant for its quality, but certain brands, especially sea salt, are sold at higher prices. Therefore, it is necessary to control the declared geographic origin of salt. Delta S-34 analysis and element concentration analysis were conducted. The results showed similar values for sea salt samples, while slight differences were found in Mediterranean salt samples. Rock salt samples showed varying values depending on formation time and origin. Terrestrial salt samples differed significantly from marine ones in elemental patterns, and differences within marine samples exist as well.
Article
Humanities, Multidisciplinary
Qiuyan Lu, Yanxiang Li, Guisen Zou, Shiyang Gong
Summary: Bronze drums of Types Beiliu and Lingshan are representative of the highest level of bronze industry in Guangxi during the Han and Tang dynasties. Through the study of these drums, the research explores their ore sources, ethnic characteristics, and correlations. The study finds common features in alloying patterns, lead isotope ratios, and trace elements, while differences exist in decorative traditions. The research concludes that despite belonging to different local powers, extensive communication and a complex relationship of integration, separation, and confrontation existed between the two types of bronze drums, reflecting the typical characteristics of ancient ethnic society.
Article
Humanities, Multidisciplinary
Yanjie Wang, Guofeng Wei, Qiang Li, Xiaoping Zheng, Danchun Wang
Summary: The analysis of lead isotopes and trace elements in the Zongyang bronzes revealed a shift in ore material sources during the Zhou Dynasty, which may have been associated with changes in political situation of the time.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Angana Chaudhuri, Anirban Chatterjee, Santanu Banerjee, J. S. Ray
Summary: An integrated approach using Sr-Nd isotope, trace and rare earth element analyses revealed that the Mesozoic sediments in the Kutch Basin primarily originated from late Palaeoproterozoic rocks, with lesser contributions from early Mesoproterozoic and early Palaeoproterozoic rocks. Different sources of sediments resulted in varying elemental and isotopic characteristics.
GEOLOGICAL MAGAZINE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
G. Boldrocchi, D. Spanu, S. Polesello, S. Valsecchi, F. Garibaldi, L. Lanteri, C. Ferrario, D. Monticelli, R. Bettinetti
Summary: This study investigated the presence of legacy, emerging contaminants and trace elements in multiple tissues of basking sharks for the first time. The skin showed higher concentrations of contaminants, indicating adsorption onto the dermal denticles. The contaminants in subcutaneous tissue and muscles were strongly correlated, suggesting that subcutaneous biopsies could be used as an early indicator of pollutant bioaccumulation in the Mediterranean Sea.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sarah De Ceuster, Dimitra Machaira, Patrick Degryse
Summary: This study compares three different methods for determining the provenance of metals using lead isotope analysis. The traditional biplot method is no longer feasible for large datasets, while calculating relative probabilities through kernel density estimation provides a more transparent and statistically correct approach. The cluster and model age method broadens the analysis with geologically informed parameters and improved visualization, but may have low resolution results and lose archaeological relevance when used as a stand-alone approach.
Article
Geology
Marshall C. Palmer, Emma J. Scanlan, James M. Scott, Lauren Farmer, Daniel Pickering, Victoria J. Wilson, Marcus Oelze, Dave Craw, Petrus J. le Roux, Yan Luo, D. Graham Pearson, Malcolm R. Reid, Claudine H. Stirling
Summary: The Otago Schist in New Zealand contains two types of tungsten mineralization, proximal and distal. The proximal mineralization occurs in sub- to lower-greenschist facies rocks and consists of quartz-calcite veins with minor scheelite and sulfides. The distal deposits are hosted in major crustal discontinuities within higher-grade metasedimentary rocks and are associated with abundant sulfides and gold. The scheelite in these two types of mineralization show geochemical differences, with the proximal occurrences being more heterogeneous in trace element and strontium isotope compositions compared to the more uniform scheelite in the distal deposits. The data suggest that tungsten mobility in the Otago Schist involved local-scale mobilization of W in the shallow crust followed by regional leaching and homogenization at higher temperatures.
ORE GEOLOGY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Yue Su, Mingxing Yang
Summary: With the development of the gem trade, the origin information of nephrite has become an important consideration and heavily influences its price. However, accurate origin determination is difficult due to similarities in appearance, composition, and spectroscopy. Through the use of LA-ICP-MS and LDA strategies, the origin of nephrite can be determined with high accuracy. The study also analyzes the performance of the three LDA strategies and discusses their potential applications. Evaluation: 8/10
JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL ATOMIC SPECTROMETRY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tahereh Yazdanparast, Vladimir Strezov, Peter Wieland, Yi-Jen Lai, Dorrit E. Jacob, Mark Patrick Taylor
Summary: This study examined the sources, pathways, and risks associated with environmental lead in urban gardens, domestic chickens, and eggs. The findings indicate that many inner-city homes may not be suitable for keeping chickens, highlighting the need for further research on the production and consumption of domestic food.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jeremy Lemaire, Paco Bustamante, Rosanna Mangione, Olivier Marquis, Carine Churlaud, Maud Brault-Favrou, Charline Parenteau, Francois Brischoux
Summary: Environmental contaminants such as mercury and lead were found to disrupt physiological mechanisms in wild caimans, affecting osmoregulation, liver function, and endocrine processes. Selenium, at lower concentrations, may have a protective effect against mercury toxicity.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Lionel Savignan, Stephane Faucher, Stephanie Jalabert, Alexandre Lee, Gaetane Lespes, Philippe Chery
Summary: This study analyzes samples from the Soil Quality Measurement Network in southwestern France to determine the spatial distribution and origin of silver in the soils. The results show a range of silver concentration in the soils and correlations with other metals and distance to mining sites. Cokriging is used to estimate the spatial distribution of silver, and it improves the quality of interpolation compared to ordinary kriging.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
L. Gatti, Federico Lugli, Giorgia Sciutto, M. Zangheri, S. Prati, M. Mirasoli, S. Silvestrini, S. Benazzi, T. Tuetken, K. Douka, C. Collina, F. Boschin, M. Romandini, P. Iacumin, M. Guardigli, A. Roda, R. Mazzeo
Summary: A study found that mutual protection between biomineral and organic fractions in bones and teeth helps promote the preservation of the organic fraction, and investigated the correlation between elemental variations and collagen distribution. By combining two methods, it was discovered that collagen had an uneven distribution in highly degraded samples, and there was a correlation between the presence of uranium and rare earth elements with collagen content.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Anthropology
Julia Montes-Landa, Ignacio Montero-Ruiz, Pere Castanyer Masoliver, Marta Santos Retolaza, Joaquim Tremoleda Trilla, Marcos Martinon-Torres
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2020)
Correction
Anthropology
Jonathan R. Wood, Michael Greenacre
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Anthropology
Jonathan R. Wood, Michael Greenacre
Summary: Analyzing the chemical compositions of Parthian and Sasanian glazed pottery using statistical methods and expert knowledge can help identify the production practices of Mesopotamian glass and glaze producers. It was found that the silica sources used in later glazes were purer and more standardized. This suggests the possibility of undiscovered glass production centers associated with urbanization in southern Mesopotamia during the Parthian-Sasanian transition.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
History & Philosophy Of Science
Umberto Veronesi, Marcos Martinon-Torres
Summary: This study reports the activities of an alchemical laboratory in Oxford's Ashmolean Museum in the late seventeenth century and reveals the laboratory's focus on technological innovation in glassmaking, pottery, and zinc metallurgy, as well as its close contact with artisan-entrepreneurs of that era.
Article
Archaeology
Jonathan R. Wood
Summary: This article presents several approaches to identify recycling in the archaeological record, contributing to a better understanding of motivations behind recycling in prehistory.
Article
Anthropology
Maria Teresa Plaza Calonge, Valentina Figueroa Larre, Marcos Martinon-Torres
Summary: Studies of archaeological goldwork in the south-central Andes region have often focused on visually striking artefacts, ignoring the potential complexity and cultural significance of gold technology in the area. Using a life-history approach, this study examines gold and silver objects from northern Chile through chemical and microscopic analyses. The results reveal diverse compositions, techniques, and skill levels, suggesting that gold artefacts were imported from various areas in the south-central Andes and used in different ways, including small-scale production and modifying imported objects. This research highlights the significance of integrative approaches in understanding the cultural context and production methods of archaeological goldwork.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Archaeology
Jonathan R. Wood
Summary: This article proposes that the birth of Classical Greece was influenced by the economically minded government under the Peisistratid tyrant Hippias. The introduction of new silver technology during the time of the Peisistratids allowed for the exploitation of silver-bearing lead ores, which financed the construction of a war navy. Against the backdrop of the threat of war with Persia and an imminent Spartan invasion, Greece adopted this labor-intensive silver technology, ultimately leading to the radical social experiment of Classical Greece.
Article
Anthropology
Braden W. Cordivari, Nicolas Nikis, Marcos Martinon-Torres
Summary: This paper examines copper production in the Niari Basin, Republic of the Congo, from the mid-fifteenth to the mid-seventeenth centuries CE. Using various analytical methods, the study evaluates the microstructure and composition of slags and technical ceramics from sites associated with two different pottery traditions. The research finds that both sites used refractory domestic pottery as crucibles for copper smelting, and identifies a unique type of crucible in sub-Saharan Africa.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Anthropology
Lise Saussus, Yi-Ting Hsu, Maxime Poulain, Marcos Martinon-Torres, Nicolas Thomas, Wim De Clercq
Summary: Ash cupels were commonly used in small-scale refining of noble metals in early modern Europe. This study presents the analysis of a large cupel recovered from Middleburg Castle in Belgium and discusses its historical context and manufacturing methods. The cupel was made of bone ash mixed with another calcareous material and was likely used for refining heavily debased silver. Simple methods for investigating cupel manufacturing and metal refining, as well as evaluating cupellation performance in archaeological contexts, are illustrated.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Anthropology
Jonathan R. Wood, Yaxiong Liu
Summary: Research into ancient Chinese metallurgy has progressed in recent years, but analyzing artifacts alone cannot reveal the relationship between technology and society. This study applies a multivariate approach and finds that copper and lead used in ancient Chinese bronzes were sourced from the same deposits rather than different regions.
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL METHOD AND THEORY
(2023)
Article
Anthropology
Yaxiong Liu, Kunlong Chen, Marcos Martinon-Torres
Summary: This paper characterizes 43 iron artefacts from Qin civilian burials in the Guanzhong Plain, dating back to the late Warring States period, through metallography and slag inclusion analysis. By analyzing these results with previous data, correlations among artefact functions, materials, and manufacturing techniques are identified, suggesting the existence of a complex and cost-efficient technological system. The study argues that a cast iron-based iron production industry was established in the Qin state no later than the late Warring States period to meet civilian needs.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
M. Murillo-Barroso, A. Martin Colliga, M. Martinon-Torres
Summary: This study presents the discovery of a Baltic amber bead in a Late Neolithic funerary cave in northeastern Iberia. Spectroscopic analysis confirmed its complete resemblance to Baltic succinite amber. This finding provides the earliest evidence for the arrival of Baltic amber in the Mediterranean and Western Europe, challenging the traditional timeline.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Anthropology
Jasmine Vieri, Shadreck Chirikure, Paul Lane, Marcos Martinon-Torres
Summary: Great Zimbabwe, from 1000 to 1600 CE, was known for its cultural innovations and involvement in trans-Africa and trans-Indian Ocean exchange. Recent excavations uncovered fragments of over a hundred gold processing vessels made of alumina-rich clays. These ceramics were used for refining and collecting gold at high temperatures, suggesting a significant role of local agency and gold consumption. The findings challenge simplified narratives of globalization and highlight the improvisation-laden production and consumption in homesteads throughout Great Zimbabwe's settlements.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Archaeology
Jonathan R. Wood, Carol Bell, Ignacio Montero-Ruiz
JOURNAL OF EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN ARCHAEOLOGY AND HERITAGE STUDIES
(2020)
Article
Anthropology
Julia Becher, Alex Schoeman, Gavin Whitelaw, Stephen Buckley, Jean-Pierre Celliers, Sara Cafisso, Matthias Belser, Maxime Rageot, Cynthianne Spiteri
Summary: This study represents the first application of Organic Residue Analysis (ORA) to southern African early farming pottery to gain a deeper understanding of past human behavior and subsistence patterns. The study found evidence of dairy processing and multi-purpose functionality of the ceramics. It also discovered potential medicinal use and the involvement of dung in pottery sealing and mending.
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Anthropology
Jon Clindaniel, Matthew Magnani
Summary: Large sources of digital trace data have become important in the study of material culture. The authors introduce a computational method to observe digital formation processes and highlight the importance of accounting for these processes in studies utilizing digital trace data.
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Anthropology
Rebecca A. G. Reid, Miranda M. E. Jans, Lesley A. Chesson, Rebecca J. Taylor, Gregory E. Berg
Summary: Chemical treatment of skeletal remains can reduce overall DNA quality and quantity but has no significant impact on stable isotope ratio analysis. Examination of treated and untreated human remains through histological and stable isotope analysis reveals that treated remains exhibit better preservation compared to untreated remains. Stable isotope ratio analysis is viable for both treated and untreated remains, regardless of their origin.
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Anthropology
Laura Tome, Eneko Iriartec, Antonio Blanco-Gonzalez, Margarita Jambrina-Enriquez, Natalia Eguez, Antonio V. Herrera-Herrera, Carolina Mallola
Summary: This paper presents the outcomes of a microcontextual geoarchaeological study conducted on earthen dwellings from the Early Iron Age village of Cerro de San Vicente. The study employed soil micromorphology, lipid biomarker analysis, XRD, and XRF analyses to investigate various aspects of the dwellings, including construction materials, site formation processes, and daily life practices. The results have shed light on the construction layers, floor use, maintenance, repaving, periods of abandonment and decay, and the presence of lipid biomarkers associated with dwelling functionality. The study significantly contributes to our understanding of ancient construction practices and the utilization of domestic spaces during the Early Iron Age.
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE
(2024)
