title: Quantitative determinations and imaging in different structures of buried human bones from the XVIII-XIXth centuries by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence - Postmortem evaluation.
abstract: In this work, a non-commercial triaxial geometry energy dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) setup and a benchtop µ-XRF system were used to identify postmortem contamination in buried bones. For two of the individuals, unusually high concentrations of Cu and Pb, but also Zn (in one individual) were observed. The pigments of the burial shroud coverings have been identified as the source of contamination. Accurate and precise quantitative results were obtained by nondestructive process using fundamental parameters method taking into account the matrix absorption effects. A total of 30 bones from 13 individuals, buried between the mid-XVIIIth to early XIXth centuries, were analyzed to study the elemental composition and elemental distribution. The bones were collected from a church in Almada (Portugal), called Ermida do Espírito Santo, located near the Tagus River and at the sea neighbourhood. The triaxial geometry setup was used to quantify Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, Br, Sr and Pb of powder pressed bone pellets (n=9 for each bone). Cluster analysis was performed considering the elemental concentrations for the different bones. There was a clear association between some bones regarding Fe, Cu, Zn, Br and Pb content but not a categorization between cortical and trabecular bones. The elemental distribution of Cu, Zn and Pb were assessed by the benchtop μ-analysis, the M4 Tornado, based on a polycapillary system which provides multi-elemental 2D maps. The results showed that contamination was mostly on the surface of the bone confirming that it was related to the burial shroud covering the individuals.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Inorganic and Nuclear Chemistry, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, P.O. Box 509, Albany, NY 12201-0509, USA; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, the University at Albany, P.O. Box 509, Albany, NY 12201-0509, USA. Electronic address: diana.guimaraes@health.ny.gov.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.affiliation: LIBPhys-UNL, Laboratório de Instrumentação, Engenharia Biomédica e Física da Radiação and Departamento de Física da Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: LIBPhys-UNL, Laboratório de Instrumentação, Engenharia Biomédica e Física da Radiação and Departamento de Física da Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: LIBPhys-UNL, Laboratório de Instrumentação, Engenharia Biomédica e Física da Radiação and Departamento de Física da Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: LIBPhys-UNL, Laboratório de Instrumentação, Engenharia Biomédica e Física da Radiação and Departamento de Física da Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Museums Division and Local History, City Hall Almada, Portugal.
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Henriques
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Anthropology and Health, University of Coimbra, Portugal; Interdisciplinary Center for Archaeology and Evolution of Human Behavior, University of Algarve, Portugal.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Curate
authors.affiliation: LIBPhys-UNL, Laboratório de Instrumentação, Engenharia Biomédica e Física da Radiação and Departamento de Física da Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pessanha
mesh_terms: D001106:Archaeology; D001344:Autopsy; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D057230:Limit of Detection; D057054:Molecular Imaging; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission
keywords: Elemental concentration, Micro-X Ray fluorescence; Human bone; Triaxial EDXRF