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

Year 2011, Volume: 2 Issue: 1, 27 - 39, 30.06.2011

Cenk Güner , Vugar Aliyev Derya Atamtürk , İzzet Duyar , Tülin Söylemezoğlu

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

• Ahlgren L, Liden K, Mattsson S, Tejning S. (1976) X-ray fluorescence analysis of lead in human skeleton in vivo. Scand J Work Environ Health 2:82-86.