Trace element composition of archaeological bones and postmortem alteration in the burial environment

We have performed Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) and Particle Induc ed Gamma-ray Emission (PIXE) analyses with an external proton millibeam on archaeological bones in order to determine possible alteration processes in their burial environment (dissolution, uptake and diffusion of foreign ion s). The PIXE method enables us to quantify the post-mortem alteration by de termining the concentration profile of several trace elements like Al, Si, S, Mn. Fel Cu, Zn and Sr in transverse bone sections, while that of fluorin e is inferred from PIXE analysis. Examples of concentration profiles of arc haeological bone cross sections from the Seine river site in Paris, Bercy ( 4000 B.C.), are shown. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.