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Updated: Aug 11, 2026
07:56
Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
Published on: January 29, 2018
Archaeological contributions of skeletal lead analysis
Lorentz Wittmers1, Arthur Aufderheide, George Rip Rapp
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Duluth, Minnesota 55812, USA.
Accounts of Chemical Research
|August 21, 2002
Summary
This study presents a new chemical method for quantifying lead in small bone samples. This technique aids in understanding lead exposure in ancient populations and standardizing archaeological bone analysis.
Area of Science:
- Paleochemistry
- Bioarchaeology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Lead (Pb) analysis in skeletal remains is crucial for understanding historical lead exposure.
- Standardized methods for lead quantitation in diverse skeletal specimens are needed.
- Bone lead levels can reflect long-term exposure and inform on past health and environmental conditions.
Observation:
- A novel chemical method was developed to accurately quantify lead in small skeletal specimens.
- This method was applied to modern skeletons across all age groups to establish baseline lead distribution and identify optimal sampling sites.
- The technique was successfully applied to ancient skeletal collections from various historical contexts.
Findings:
- Lead quantitation in ancient Roman skeletons linked lead poisoning to lead production.
- Socioeconomic status of Colonial Americans was predicted using bone lead levels.
- An 18th-century Caribbean epidemic was associated with lead poisoning from rum distillation.
Implications:
- This method provides a reliable tool for assessing historical lead exposure and its sources.
- Standardized sampling sites improve the accuracy and comparability of bone lead analyses.
- Addressing potential contamination issues through multielement analysis ensures the validity of archaeological bone lead data.
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