Ion beam analysis of ancient Mexican colored teeth from archaeological sites in Mexico City

Authors
Rodriguez-Fernandez, L Ruvalcaba-Sil, JL Ontalba-Salamanca, MA Roman-Berrelleza, JA Gallardo, ML Grimaldi, DM de Lucio, OG Miranda, J
Citation
L. Rodriguez-fernandez et al., Ion beam analysis of ancient Mexican colored teeth from archaeological sites in Mexico City, NUCL INST B, 150(1-4), 1999, pp. 663-666
Citations number
8
Categorie Soggetti
Spectroscopy /Instrumentation/Analytical Sciences","Instrumentation & Measurement
Journal title
NUCLEAR INSTRUMENTS & METHODS IN PHYSICS RESEARCH SECTION B-BEAM INTERACTIONS WITH MATERIALS AND ATOMS
ISSN journal
0168583X → ACNP
Volume
150
Issue
1-4
Year of publication
1999
Pages
663 - 666
Database
ISI
SICI code
0168-583X(199904)150:1-4<663:IBAOAM>2.0.ZU;2-A
Abstract
Infant teeth with extremely rare colored enamel regions white, blue-gray an d brown, have been analyzed by Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) and R utherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS). The teeth were part of human b eing sacrifices to deities of the Mexica culture, Mexico, corresponding to the Late Post-classic period (1325-1521 A.D.). Comparisons to normal teeth from the same historical period indicate that the colored ones present larg er mean amounts of Mn and Fe, while Zn and Sr do not differ too much. Possi ble inorganic compounds responsible for the different colorations are indic ated. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.