Journal of Archaeological Science最新文献

{"title":"Distinguishing biogenic from geogenic anhydrites in ash: a case study of Iron Age Qumran","authors":"Ilana Peters ,&nbsp;Elisabetta Boaretto ,&nbsp;Mark Cavanagh ,&nbsp;Amos Frumkin ,&nbsp;Ofer Sion ,&nbsp;Yotam Asscher","doi":"10.1016/j.jas.2026.106477","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jas.2026.106477","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A white layer composed of anhydrite, a calcium sulfate mineral, was identified in an archaeological context within a cave near the Dead Sea, radiocarbon dated to the Iron Age period. Under ambient conditions, anhydrite typically hydrates to gypsum, rendering its retention a notably rare phenomenon in an archaeological setting. This prompted questions regarding both its preservation and origin. Certain plants, such as tamarisk, are known to produce calcium sulfate hemihydrate, which dehydrates to anhydrite when burned. Similarly, geogenic gypsum converts to anhydrite upon heating, as occurs in gypsum plaster production. Based on this, we hypothesized that the archaeological layer formed as a result of thermal processes. In this study, we demonstrate that it is possible to distinguish between pyrogenic anhydrite derived from biological versus geological sources. To do so, we conducted controlled heating experiments on geological and synthetic calcium sulfates, as well as on various tamarisk tissues, including bark, green branches, and woody parts. These experiments enabled us to quantify changes in chemical composition, morphology, and atomic-scale structural disorder caused by heating. The structural disorder was assessed using a novel infrared spectroscopic approach we developed, which tracks changes in anhydrite vibrational bands. Our results indicate that the thick anhydrite layer in Qumran Cave 49 originated from the burning of green tamarisk branches circa 2800 years ago, providing new constraints on hydration processes in hyper-arid conditions. This conclusion is supported by evidence of disordered crystallinity, elevated sodium content, and irregular particle morphology of the crystals. The methodology presented here offers a new avenue for identifying the origin of calcium sulfate materials in archaeological contexts, including gypsum plaster found at sites distant from geological gypsum sources. It can help determine whether local biological sources were exploited or if geological materials were acquired through trade.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50254,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science","volume":"186 ","pages":"Article 106477"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145978014","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genomic insights into the ancestry and mortality of a historical era population from Southwest China","authors":"Jiayi Dong ,&nbsp;Wan Peng ,&nbsp;Jiaqi Jin ,&nbsp;Lei Yang ,&nbsp;Ruojing Zhang ,&nbsp;Jiange Jia ,&nbsp;Chen Duan ,&nbsp;Ge Song ,&nbsp;Fei Zhao ,&nbsp;Rurui Ye ,&nbsp;Zhandong Gao ,&nbsp;Haibing Yuan ,&nbsp;Deyuan Wang ,&nbsp;Xinglong Zhang ,&nbsp;Fan Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.jas.2025.106459","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jas.2025.106459","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Yun-Gui (Yunnan and Guizhou) Plateau of Southwest China has long been characterized by long-standing ethnolinguistic diversity shaped by complex demographic history. Although numerous groups belonging to distinct language families have inhabited the region over recent centuries, the nature and extent of their interactions remain poorly understood. At a natural karst cave located in a multiethnic area of southern Guizhou, archaeologists uncovered scattered skeletal remains of several dozen individuals dated to the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties (575–685 cal BP). The genetic origins of these individuals and the context of their deaths were previously unknown. Here, we present genome-wide ancient DNA analysis from 22 individuals recovered from the cave. The results reveal a strikingly genetically homogeneous population, exhibiting admixed ancient northern and southern East Asian ancestry, yet showing clear genetic differentiation from contemporaneous neighboring groups. This ancestry profile represents a genetic component that contributed to present-day ethnolinguistic groups in Southwest China. Genetic kinship analyses indicate that the group comprised several family units and was dominated by females. Furthermore, we detected authentic <em>Salmonella enterica</em> (<em>S. enterica</em>) DNA in one individual, supported by high sequence similarity to reference genomes of serovars <em>S.</em> Choleraesuis and <em>S.</em> Paratyphi C, along with characteristic ancient DNA damage patterns. No similar pathogen DNA was identified in other individuals. Integrating genomic evidence with historical records, we infer that these individuals most likely represent collective mortality associated with conflict rather than a widespread epidemic.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50254,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science","volume":"186 ","pages":"Article 106459"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145799198","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Isotopes and human organizational diversity in South America","authors":"Augusto Tessone ,&nbsp;André Carlo Colonese ,&nbsp;Miguel E. Delgado ,&nbsp;Luis Pezo-Lanfranco ,&nbsp;Francisca Santana-Sagredo ,&nbsp;Ramiro Barberena","doi":"10.1016/j.jas.2025.106460","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jas.2025.106460","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Isotopic analysis of archaeological human remains has become an essential tool within the global bioarchaeological research agenda. This article explores the substantial contributions of isotopic analysis to the field of bioarchaeology in South America, with particular emphasis on the patterns of socioeconomic diversification associated with human-environment interactions. Our case-studies on a continental scale -from northernmost South America to Patagonia, and from the Pacific to the Atlantic Oceans-include the lifeways of hunter-gatherer populations and the processes of domestication and/or economic integration of domestic plants and animals since the Early Holocene. The study of stable isotopes in South America has contributed considerably to our understanding of cultural changes associated with agricultural development, dietary specialization, diversification, and the emergence of social differentiation. Building on this, we analyze the state of the art of isotopic applications in the South American continent, highlighting main findings, empirical gaps and methodological challenges that will continue to shape the field in years to come.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50254,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science","volume":"186 ","pages":"Article 106460"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145841743","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Detection of rice-based additives in the Forbidden City's historical mortar using DNA barcoding technology","authors":"Qian Wu ,&nbsp;Qiong Zhang ,&nbsp;Bingjian Zhang ,&nbsp;Yulan Hu","doi":"10.1016/j.jas.2026.106476","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jas.2026.106476","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Forbidden City (Imperial Palace), the imperial architectural complex of the Ming and Qing dynasties, has stood for over six centuries since its completion in 1420. The mortar used in its construction—an organic-inorganic composite—played a crucial role in the preservation of these ancient structures. Traditional mortars often incorporated organic additives such as glutinous rice. Was glutinous rice used in the construction of the Forbidden City? Although previous enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) studies detected branched-chain amylopectin additives in the mortar—suggesting the possible use of glutinous rice—conclusive molecular evidence was lacking. However, the identification is complicated by the fact that other starchy plants (e.g., millet) produce similar amylopectin. This challenge is compounded by the geographic context, as Beijing is not a historic cultivation area for glutinous rice. DNA analysis can provide direct molecular evidence to confirm whether glutinous rice or other sticky plants were used. Glutinous rice, exhibits a low-amylose phenotype resulting from a 23 bp insertion in the second exon of the Waxy (Wx) gene. This locus has been confirmed as a key molecular marker for distinguishing between glutinous and non-glutinous varieties.This study aimed to provide direct molecular evidence to determine whether glutinous rice or other sticky plants were used in the mortar of the Forbidden City. Using universal primers, we amplified barcode fragments containing this mutation region via DNA barcode technology. We analyzed the mortar samples collected from Yangxindian and Lingzhao Xuan in the Forbidden City,and the results confirmed showed that glutinous rice was present in five samples from different locations. This indicates that, despite Beijing not being a traditional glutinous rice-producing region, royal construction projects during the Ming and Qing dynasties consistently employed glutinous rice as an organic additive in mortar—a finding consistent with historical records such as the Precedents of the Grand Qing Code.This study provides the first molecular biological evidence confirming the use of glutinous rice in the mortar of the Forbidden City. Accurately identifying the components of historic adhesives helps preserve the original information and value of cultural heritage and supports the principle of “repairing the old as it was” in conservation practice. The findings hold significant value for the restoration and preservation of the ancient architectural complex of the Palace Museum.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50254,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science","volume":"186 ","pages":"Article 106476"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145927078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bioarchaeological signatures during the Plague of Justinian (541–750 CE) in Jerash (ancient Gerasa), Jordan","authors":"Karen Hendrix ,&nbsp;Swamy R. Adapa ,&nbsp;Robert H. Tykot ,&nbsp;Gregory O'Corry-Crowe ,&nbsp;Andrea Vianello ,&nbsp;Gloria C. Ferreira ,&nbsp;Michael Decker ,&nbsp;Rays H.Y. Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.jas.2026.106473","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jas.2026.106473","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Jerash (ancient Gerasa, in modern day Jordan) reached its demographic peak in the 3rd century CE with a population of roughly 25,000, but by the end of the 6th century this had declined to about 10,000, setting the stage for the urban vulnerabilities examined in this study. The W2 and W3 chambers of the Jerash hippodrome contain a densely layered mass burial of ∼230 individuals dating to the mid-6th to early 7th century AD. Through archaeological documentation, stable isotope analysis, and ancient DNA study, we present the first biomolecularly confirmed mass grave associated with the First Pandemic (Justinianic Plague) in the Eastern Mediterranean. The taphonomic pattern, rapid, high-density deposition with minimal funerary structuring, closely parallels catastrophic plague pits of the later medieval period, making Jerash a uniquely well-preserved example from Late Antiquity.</div><div>Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values from human bone collagen indicate diets dominated by C3 resources typical of the region. In contrast, oxygen isotope values from tooth enamel display a markedly wider range than those documented in long-term residential populations at Tell Dothan, Pella, or Faynan in the Levant. Although oxygen isotopes cannot specify geographic origin, the magnitude of variation, arising within a burial event deposited over only days or weeks, suggests that the individuals interred in the Jerash mass grave grew up in diverse childhood water ecologies. We interpret this pattern conservatively as evidence of heterogeneous lived experiences among the victims during the crisis.</div><div>Ancient DNA analysis has recently identified a single, uniform strain of <em>Yersinia pestis</em>, confirming a synchronous epidemic event. In this study, mitochondrial haplogroups H13 and L3e were detected among the victims and fall within the expected maternal diversity of the Byzantine Levant.</div><div>Taken together, the archaeological, isotopic, and genetic results establish Jerash as the earliest securely identified catastrophic plague burial in the Near East. The First Pandemic concentrated a potentially socially and geographically heterogeneous population into a single mortuary event, providing a rare empirical window into mobility, urban life, and vulnerability in Late Antiquity. Jerash thus offers a critical anchor point for reconstructing the demographic and epidemiological landscape of the early medieval Mediterranean.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50254,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science","volume":"186 ","pages":"Article 106473"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145962466","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Semantic segmentation and 3D reconstruction of CT images of bronze casting moulds and cores based on a deep learning method","authors":"Haotian Zhang ,&nbsp;Lingyu Liao ,&nbsp;Zhenfei Sun ,&nbsp;Siran Liu ,&nbsp;Shining Ma ,&nbsp;Kunlong Chen ,&nbsp;Yue Liu ,&nbsp;Yongtian Wang ,&nbsp;Weitao Song","doi":"10.1016/j.jas.2025.106461","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jas.2025.106461","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study presents an innovative approach combining semantic segmentation and 3D reconstruction to analyze CT images of bronze casting moulds and cores unearthed at the Taijiasi archaeological site. Leveraging the Swin-Unet deep learning architecture, the proposed MouldCTSegNet model achieves accurate material segmentation in challenging CT datasets characterized by low contrast and blurred boundaries. The segmented results are used to reconstruct precise 3D models of different material components using volume rendering. This method not only enhances the understanding of ancient combined-material moulding techniques but also provides an advanced tool for cultural heritage preservation, offering significant contributions to archaeology and related disciplines.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50254,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science","volume":"186 ","pages":"Article 106461"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145784429","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assembling the puzzle pieces: Integrating pottery and kiln analysis to reconstruct pyrotechnology at the Dinka Settlement Complex (Iraqi Kurdistan)","authors":"Silvia Amicone ,&nbsp;Ada Dinckal ,&nbsp;Shira Gur-Arieh ,&nbsp;Baptiste Solard ,&nbsp;Marcel Frenken ,&nbsp;Andrea Squitieri ,&nbsp;Jean-Jacques Herr ,&nbsp;Christoph Berthold ,&nbsp;Christopher E. Miller ,&nbsp;Karen Radner","doi":"10.1016/j.jas.2025.106425","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jas.2025.106425","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study offers an integrated analysis of pottery and firing installations, used to investigate ancient pyrotechnology. Such combined approaches remain rare in archaeology, as kilns and other firing structures are often overlooked compared to the ceramics they produced. This limits insights into technological practices, resource management, and production systems.</div><div>The Dinka Settlement Complex (DSC), recently discovered in the Peshdar Plain (Sulaymaniyah Province, Kurdish Autonomous Region of Iraq), provides a unique opportunity to address this gap. As the only extensively excavated early Iron Age site in the Zagros with direct evidence of a pottery workshop, it sheds light on craft specialisation, technological traditions, and urban life, revealing an unexpectedly level of socio-economic complexity in the region at that time.</div><div>Excavations uncovered kilns together with a diverse pottery assemblage, analysed using a interdisciplinary methodology combining archaeometry, geoarchaeology, and palaeobotany. Techniques such as ceramic petrography, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were applied to sherds, kiln linings, and local clay to assess composition and firing conditions. Soil micromorphology and micro-remains analysis further clarified kiln construction, fuel choices, and use histories.</div><div>The results reveal a coherent technological tradition at the DSC, possibly indicating centralised control over pottery production across a network of workshops integrated into the site's layout. More broadly, this research shows how linking pottery analysis with pyrotechnological features enhances our understanding of ancient technologies and the life cycles of production installations. The interdisciplinary approach provides a replicable model for future studies and makes a significant contribution to the study of early Iron Age production systems in the Zagros and beyond.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50254,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science","volume":"186 ","pages":"Article 106425"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145822781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seasonality and water source strategies in the Neolithic Near East (ca. 8,000–5,000 BCE): Insights from multi-proxy isotopic and elemental analyses","authors":"Janaína N. Ávila ,&nbsp;Arkadiusz Sołtysiak ,&nbsp;Christine Austin ,&nbsp;Hojjat Darabi ,&nbsp;Nicole D. Leonard ,&nbsp;Hassan Fazeli Nashli ,&nbsp;Ian S. Williams ,&nbsp;Jian-xin Zhao ,&nbsp;Tanya M. Smith","doi":"10.1016/j.jas.2025.106462","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jas.2025.106462","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Previous studies have demonstrated that enamel oxygen isotope values (δ¹⁸O) reflect rainfall variability experienced by wild primates and ancient humans, providing insights into local climatic conditions. However, it remains less clear whether seasonal patterns can be consistently detected in premodern human communities experiencing different local water dynamics, or how these patterns may vary regionally. Here we present 1958 ion microprobe δ¹⁸O measurements linked to enamel growth increments in 15 molars from 13 individuals, representing a combined total of 48 years of enamel formation sampled at approximately weekly resolution. We additionally integrate ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and trace-element datasets, contextualized by the δ¹⁸O enamel profiles, to assess seasonal adaptation and the likelihood that observed isotopic patterns reflect local rather than non-local signatures. Our dataset spans three Neolithic archaeological sites characterized by distinct water sources: Ali Kosh, Iran (ca. 7,500–6,500 cal BCE); Nemrik 9, Iraq (ca. 8,000–6,500 BCE); and Tepe Sialk North, Iran (ca. 5,800–4,900 BCE). Individuals from Ali Kosh exhibited the highest δ¹⁸O values in the dataset along with substantial intra-individual variability, consistent with reliance on evaporatively enriched transient and isotopically diverse water sources—possibly shaped by local mobility or water management strategies. In contrast, individuals from Nemrik 9 displayed clear, large-amplitude annual cycles in their enamel δ¹⁸O values, a pattern consistent with a settlement situated near a perennial river subjected to pronounced climatic seasonality. Tepe Sialk North individuals exhibited the lowest δ¹⁸O variability, consistent with consumption of isotopically buffered sources such as springs or artesian-fed systems. Predicted drinking water δ¹⁸O values for most of the Nemrik 9 and Ali Kosh individuals align well with modern regional rainfall isotope values, while those from Tepe Sialk North underestimate local precipitation δ¹⁸O values, as expected for groundwater-fed sources. Additionally, site-specific seasonal patterns were observed in Ba/Ca and Li/Ca elemental ratios, likely shaped by the interplay of regional geology and hydrology. Together, our findings provide valuable insights into Neolithic water access strategies in arid regions, while also underscoring the limitations of identifying bioarchaeological migrants based solely on δ¹⁸O values from tooth enamel.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50254,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science","volume":"186 ","pages":"Article 106462"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145927076","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Local or interregional exchange systems? A study of Estonian iron provenancing","authors":"Sander Jegorov ,&nbsp;Grzegorz Żabiński ,&nbsp;Rasmus Andreasen ,&nbsp;Thomas Birch ,&nbsp;Peeter Somelar ,&nbsp;Kristo Oks ,&nbsp;Jüri Peets ,&nbsp;Ragnar Saage","doi":"10.1016/j.jas.2025.106454","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jas.2025.106454","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The aim of this study is to address questions about the differences in chemical composition of iron smelting slag finds in Estonia. The chemical analyses of smelting slag will allow to establish a production regions reference dataset for further research. Currency blooms have been also included, of which some have been dated to the Estonian Viking Age (800–1050 AD) and the Late Iron Age (1050–1227 AD). The blooms are examined about their relationships with possible production regions. Using a multi-method analytical approach (SEM-EDS, LA-ICP-MS) and a multivariate data analysis (PCA, AHC and a set of supervised methods) it is argued that Estonia most likely had a highly interconnected local exchange of iron between different regions. An existence of exchange centres which specialised in the production of such blooms is also possible. A key methodological finding is that contrary to results reported in the literature covered, there exists a considerable overlap between the discussed production regions. This indicates that even with multiple samples, chemical elements and sophisticated statistical methods, a perfect separation of production areas may not always be achievable, especially when solely bog ores served as raw material for ironmaking. However, this study demonstrates that despite such a strong overlap of data in the chemical composition of the slags, a successful provenance study of artefacts is still possible.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50254,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science","volume":"186 ","pages":"Article 106454"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145884924","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mercury treatment in late medieval European leprosaria? New data from human dental calculus","authors":"Elena Fiorin ,&nbsp;Vincent Perrot ,&nbsp;Charlotte A. Roberts ,&nbsp;Cécile Chapelain de Seréville-Niel ,&nbsp;Yue Gao ,&nbsp;Christophe Snoeck ,&nbsp;Emanuela Cristiani","doi":"10.1016/j.jas.2025.106444","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jas.2025.106444","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the potential use of mercury-based treatments for leprosy during the late medieval period through the analysis of mercury concentrations in human dental calculus. Calculus samples were obtained from individuals buried at St Leonard's (Peterborough, England) and St Thomas's (Aizier, France) leprosaria, with comparative samples collected from non-leprosaria burial sites where individuals showed no osteological evidence of leprosy. Mercury levels were measured in soil (N = 45) from the burial grounds using atomic absorption spectrometry and in dental calculus (N = 76) using cold vapour fluorescence adsorption spectroscopy. The findings reveal significant variability in mercury concentrations within and between sites, with the dental calculus values ranging from 0.11 to 9.7 mg kg⁻¹. Notably, individuals from leprosaria cemeteries exhibited significantly higher mercury concentrations in their calculus than those from non-leprosaria cemeteries (t(70) = 3.22, p = 0.002). Although mercury levels in the burial soils associated with the individuals sampled in leprosaria cemeteries were elevated compared to the natural geochemical background, the analysis suggests that contamination is probably due to mercury accumulated in soft tissues during life, which could substantially increase the surrounding soil's mercury content during decomposition. Thus, contamination from the surrounding soil was ruled out as the source of mercury in the dental calculus. Integrated with historical and archaeological evidence, these findings may suggest the intentional use of mercury-based treatments for leprosy. This study highlights the role of bioarchaeology in uncovering medieval therapeutic practices and provides the first evidence of mercury linked to medical treatment detected in dental calculus.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50254,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science","volume":"185 ","pages":"Article 106444"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145657229","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}