Trace element analysis of blackish staining on the crowns of human archaeological teeth

A blackish staining found on the crowns of teeth of 51 skulls from the excavation of the medieval St. Olav's church in Trondheim was analyzed using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). In four teeth, mass spectra and step scan concentration profiles of SIMS were performed and compared with the grey scale pattern in photographs of the analyzed paths. The manganese curve showed the highest degree of conformity with the grey scale pattern. The AAS analysis confirmed the increased content of manganese in blackish stained enamel. It was concluded that manganese, probably in the form of an oxide deposited from the soil, was the cause of the blackish staining.