Bromine, a possible marine diet indicator? A hypothesis revisited

This study examines the hypothesis that bromine in human skeletal tissue serves as an indicator of marine diet. Synchrotron‐based X‐ray fluorescence microscopy of samples from archaeological sites on the Peruvian North Coast showed relative enrichment of bromine in the cementum and osteons. X‐ray ab...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archaeometry 2020-12, Vol.62 (6), p.1267-1279
Main Authors: Kozachuk, M. S., Sham, T. K., Martin, R. R., Nelson, A. J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Absorption spectroscopy
Archaeological sites
bioarchaeology
Bromine
cementum
Detection limits
Fluorescence
Fluorescence microscopy
human remains
Hypotheses
Indicators
Marine mammals
Peru
synchrotron radiation
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Summary:This study examines the hypothesis that bromine in human skeletal tissue serves as an indicator of marine diet. Synchrotron‐based X‐ray fluorescence microscopy of samples from archaeological sites on the Peruvian North Coast showed relative enrichment of bromine in the cementum and osteons. X‐ray absorption spectroscopy determined organobromine to be present, suggesting an exclusive association with the organic component. We used skeletal tissue from marine mammals as a proxy for the marine diet. Bromine, when observed in these specimens, was recorded close to the detection limits; therefore, bromine in archaeological skeletal material does not appear to be an indicator of marine diet.
ISSN:0003-813X
1475-4754
DOI:10.1111/arcm.12590