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Sr/Ca mass ratio determination in bones using fast neutron activation analysis

M Hult1, A Fessler

  • 1EC-JRC-IRMM, Geel, Belgium.

Applied Radiation and Isotopes : Including Data, Instrumentation and Methods for Use in Agriculture, Industry and Medicine
|August 12, 1998
PubMed
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Measuring the strontium to calcium (Sr/Ca) mass ratio in human bones non-destructively using fast neutron activation analysis offers insights into ancient diets. This method is crucial for preserving invaluable archaeological bone samples.

Area of Science:

  • Archaeometry
  • Paleodietary Studies
  • Nuclear Analysis

Background:

  • The strontium to calcium (Sr/Ca) mass ratio in human bone is a key indicator of ancient dietary habits.
  • Analyzing this ratio is vital for archaeological research into past human populations.
  • Preserving precious archaeological bone samples necessitates non-destructive analytical techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish a non-destructive method for measuring the Sr/Ca mass ratio in human bones.
  • To evaluate the utility of fast neutron activation analysis (NAA) for this purpose.
  • To identify specific nuclear reactions suitable for non-destructive Sr/Ca analysis in bone.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized fast neutron activation analysis (NAA) for non-destructive elemental ratio measurement.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Conducted simulations to identify optimal nuclear reactions.
  • Performed measurements on bone samples to validate the NAA approach.

    • Main Results:

    • Demonstrated that fast neutron activation analysis can accurately measure the Sr/Ca mass ratio in human bones without sample destruction.
    • Identified the nuclear reactions 88Sr(n, 2n)87mSr and 44Ca(n, p)44K as highly effective for this analysis.
    • Validated the feasibility of using NAA for paleodietary research on valuable bone specimens.

    Conclusions:

    • Fast neutron activation analysis provides a viable non-destructive method for determining the Sr/Ca mass ratio in human bones.
    • This technique significantly aids archaeological investigations by enabling dietary reconstructions from precious skeletal remains.
    • The identified nuclear reactions offer a precise pathway for future paleodietary studies.