Diagenetic arsenic uptake in archaeological bone. Can we really identify copper smelters?
Diagenetic arsenic uptake in archaeological bone. Can we really identify copper smelters?
In a recent paper Oakberg, Levy & Smith (2000) reported measurements of arsenic concentrations in bone from the Chalcolithic site of Shiqmim, Israel. They inferred that since elevated levels of As had been found in the bone of modern copper smelter workers in Sweden, high concentrations in archaeological bone could be used to infer copper smelting activities in the past. However, their argument ignores the effects of post-depositional mobility of arsenic between soil, groundwater and bone. Here, we outline the processes influencing mobilization of As and post-depositional As incorporation in bone. We argue that the As concentrations reported by Oakberg, Levy & Smith (2000) can be accounted for by diagenetic uptake and are unlikely to reflect biogenic As concentrations. We therefore conclude that the data presented by Oakberg, Levy & Smith (2000) cannot be used to infer past copper smelting.
607-611
Pike, A.W.G.
e8603e20-0a89-4d57-a294-247b983fc857
Richards, M.P.
bc5bfded-c2a8-4d3f-8c61-69f151acdff1
June 2002
Pike, A.W.G.
e8603e20-0a89-4d57-a294-247b983fc857
Richards, M.P.
bc5bfded-c2a8-4d3f-8c61-69f151acdff1
Pike, A.W.G. and Richards, M.P.
(2002)
Diagenetic arsenic uptake in archaeological bone. Can we really identify copper smelters?
Journal of Archaeological Science, 29 (6), .
(doi:10.1006/jasc.2001.0754).
Abstract
In a recent paper Oakberg, Levy & Smith (2000) reported measurements of arsenic concentrations in bone from the Chalcolithic site of Shiqmim, Israel. They inferred that since elevated levels of As had been found in the bone of modern copper smelter workers in Sweden, high concentrations in archaeological bone could be used to infer copper smelting activities in the past. However, their argument ignores the effects of post-depositional mobility of arsenic between soil, groundwater and bone. Here, we outline the processes influencing mobilization of As and post-depositional As incorporation in bone. We argue that the As concentrations reported by Oakberg, Levy & Smith (2000) can be accounted for by diagenetic uptake and are unlikely to reflect biogenic As concentrations. We therefore conclude that the data presented by Oakberg, Levy & Smith (2000) cannot be used to infer past copper smelting.
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Accepted/In Press date: 7 September 2001
Published date: June 2002
Organisations:
Archaeology
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Local EPrints ID: 394446
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/394446
ISSN: 0305-4403
PURE UUID: 6137aed8-861a-4533-ba43-082441d52a28
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Date deposited: 29 Jun 2016 15:38
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:44
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M.P. Richards
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