open access publication

Article, 2024

Variation in bioavailable lead, copper, and strontium concentrations in human skeletons from medieval to early modern Denmark

JOURNAL OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL ARCHAEOLOGY, ISSN 0278-4165, 0278-4165, Volume 74, 10.1016/j.jaa.2024.101587

Contributors

Boldsen, Jesper L. 0000-0002-2850-0934 (Corresponding author) [1] Pedersen, Dorthe Dangvard [1] Milner, George R. 0000-0002-3330-0726 [2] [3] [4] Kristensen, Vicki R. 0000-0002-2401-367X [1] Skytte, Lilian 0000-0001-6633-9179 [1] Moller, Stig Bergmann [5] Sarauw, Torben Birk [5] Andersen, C. B. [6] Larsen, Lars Agersnap [7] Hyldgaard, Inger Marie [8] Klingenberg, Mette [9] Larsen, Lars Krants [10] Mollerup, Lene 0000-0002-2471-4548 [11] Seeberg, Lone [12] Bentsen, Lars Christian [13] Sovso, Morten 0000-0003-1348-8028 [14] Kristensen, Tenna [15] Christensen, Jakob Tue [16] Heide, Poul Baltzer [17] Norgaard, Lone C. [18] Uldum, Otto [19] Engberg, Niels [20] Simonsen, Rikke Kildevaeld [21] Dahlstrom, Hanna [21] Langkilde, Jesper [22] Wickman, Niels [20] [23] Hansen, Palle Birk [24] Wille-Jorgensen, Dorthe [24] Stjernqvist, Kasper Wurr [24] Rasmussen, A. 0000-0003-4529-1107 [25] Rasmussen, Kaare L. 0000-0001-9575-868X [1]

Affiliations

  1. [1] Univ Southern Denmark, Dept Forens Med, Sect Anthropol, ADBOU, Fioniavej 10, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
    2. [NORA names: SDU University of Southern Denmark; University; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];
  2. [2] Penn State Univ, Dept Anthropol, University Pk, PA 16802 USA
    3. [NORA names: United States; America, North; OECD];
  3. [3] Penn State Univ, Dept Anthropol, University Pk, PA 16802 USA
    4. [NORA names: United States; America, North; OECD];
  4. [4] Penn State Univ, Dept Anthropol, University Pk, PA 16802 USA
    5. [NORA names: United States; America, North; OECD];
  5. [5] Nordjyske Museer, Aalborg, Denmark
    6. [NORA names: Miscellaneous; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];

Abstract

Three trace elements in human bones permit the delineation of temporal and social variability among medieval to early modern Danes in what they ate (strontium, Sr) and whether they lived in an urban or non -urban setting (lead, Pb; copper, Cu). The chemical composition of bones from 332 children (5 to 12 years old) buried in 51 Danish cemeteries was estimated through Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Children provide a local chemical signal because they were less likely than adults to have moved from one place to another. There was no age effect on trace element concentrations. Geographical variability in trace element concentrations was highly localized, so the three elements, individually or collectively, cannot be used to identify where in Denmark people originated. Diets and exposure to sources of Pb and Cu, however, did not remain constant over time. Trace element concentrations show that the life experiences of people from towns differed from their rural counterparts. While most apparent with Pb and Cu, it is also true of Sr until urban and rural diets converged in the early modern period.

Keywords

Bioavailable trace elements, Historic Denmark, Human skeletons, ICP-MS, Social variation, Temporal variation

Data Provider: Clarivate

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