Retention of Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, and As on human bones unearthed at a Central Anatolian Early Bronze Age excavation site (Resuloğlu, Turkey)

Abstract

The retention of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As) on rib bones belonging to 81 individuals gathered from the Resuloğlu necropolis, a Central Anatolian Early Bronze Age (EBA) excavation site, were analyzed. Graphite Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GFAAS) was used for the assays of Pb and Cd. Furthermore, Cu and Zn were evaluated with Fast Sequential Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FSAAS) while As was analyzed using the hydride system. The ranges of Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, and As levels were found between 103.96- 837.34 ppm; 1.99-396.46 ppm; 0.13-2.95 ppm; 0.87-34.89 ppm; 0.35-36.43 ppm, respectively. The outcomes vary highly among age groups. In order to reveal the origin of the retentions, soil and water samples obtained from the different regions of the excavation area were also analyzed. Both bone/soil ratios for each element and proximity to the Resuloğlu region, in which rich Cu, Pb, Zn, Fe and Mn ore deposits can be found, support the notion that the origin of the accumulations arises from diagenetic effects. Yet, no influence of metal concentrations was found in water samples over the bones. For Cu retention, especially on bones, it is believed that the major factor behind the accumulation depends not only on diagenetic factors but also burial gifts.

Keywords

• Chemical anthropology
• bioarchaeology
• Early Bronze Age (EBA)
• human bones
• diagenetic factors

References

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