Trace elements and the European skeleton through 5000 years.

Area of Science:

• Paleoanthropology
• Bioarchaeology
• Trace Element Analysis

Background:

• Human skeletal remains offer insights into past diets and environmental exposures.
• Elemental distribution in bones reflects long-term dietary patterns and lifestyle changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the distribution of trace elements in human femurs and tibias across different historical periods in Europe.
• To correlate elemental concentrations with dietary habits and environmental factors from the Neolithic to modern times.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 1044 bone samples from 522 skeletons spanning Neolithic, La Téne, Roman, Medieval, and contemporary periods.
• Elemental analysis of femur and tibia samples to determine distribution along the longitudinal axis and cross-section.

Main Results:

• Zinc, iron, nickel, chromium, lead, manganese, cobalt, and tin accumulated in the epiphysis, while calcium, strontium, sodium, and potassium were concentrated in the diaphysis.
• Lead concentration was highest in the external layer of historical femurs and modern cadavers.
• Higher zinc levels correlated with meat-rich diets, while lower levels were observed in agricultural communities.

Conclusions:

• Dietary shifts from Neolithic farming to agricultural intensification impacted skeletal element composition.
• Trace element profiles reveal distinct dietary patterns for Celtic and Germanic tribes.
• Lead emerged as a 'civilization element' by the early Common Era, with tin levels significantly increasing in modern populations.