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Iron deposition in modern and archaeological teeth

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 01:40 authored by Anne-Marie WilliamsAnne-Marie Williams, Siegele, R
Iron surface concentrations and profile maps were measured on the enamel of archaeological and modern teeth to determine how iron is deposited in tooth enamel and if it was affected by the post-mortem environment. Teeth from Australian children who died in the second half of the 19th century were compared with contemporary teeth extracted for orthodontic purposes. Surface analysis of the teeth was performed using the 3 MV Van Der Graff Accelerator at The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Sydney, Australia. A small sample of teeth were then cut in the mid sagittal plane and analysed using ANSTO High Energy Heavy Ion Microprobe. Maps and linear profiles were produced showing the distribution of iron across the enamel. Results show that both the levels and distribution of iron in archaeological teeth is quite different to contemporary teeth, raising the suggestion that iron has been significantly altered by the post-mortem environment.

Funding

Australian Institute of Nuclear Science & Engineering

History

Publication title

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions With Materials and Atoms

Volume

335

Pagination

19-23

ISSN

0168-583X

Department/School

Tasmanian School of Medicine

Publisher

Elsevier Science Bv

Place of publication

Po Box 211, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1000 Ae

Rights statement

Copyright 2014 Elsevier

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Understanding Australia’s past

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    University Of Tasmania

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