Assessing pathological conditions in archaeological bone using portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF)

Kilburn, Naomi N.; Gowland, Rebecca L.; Halldórsdóttir, Hrafnhildur H.; Williams, Rhys; Thompson, Tim J.U.

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the potential of portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (pXRF) for identifying pathological conditions in archaeological human skeletal remains. Bone element distribution in relation to known disease categories is analyzed using pXRF from the femora of 73 individuals (34 adult; 39 non-adult) from the post-Medieval Coach Lane skeletal collection (Durham University). There were no significant differences in the elemental ratios of individuals with scurvy, rickets, and cribra orbitalia. Potential alterations in elemental content were observed in relation to syphilis (Mn/S, Mn/Cl, and Ba/Cl) and neoplastic disease (Ba/Sr, S/Sr, Mn/Fe, and Zn/Cl). It is likely that post-depositional diagenetic changes, potentially exacerbated by the industrial location of the burial site, altered the elemental content of the individuals sampled and thereby effectively obscured any pathological changes detectable by pXRF.

Citation

Kilburn, N. N., Gowland, R. L., Halldórsdóttir, H. H., Williams, R., & Thompson, T. J. (2021). Assessing pathological conditions in archaeological bone using portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF). Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 37, Article 102980. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2021.102980

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 5, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Apr 25, 2021
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Deposit Date: Aug 9, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 25, 2023
• Journal: Journal of archaeological science, reports.
• Print ISSN: 2352-409X
• Electronic ISSN: 2352-4103
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 37
• Article Number: 102980
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2021.102980
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1238001