Eyjafjallaj?kull volcanic activity....

[GnomeKing]

"Is it possible that volcanic activity at different times in the past could affect this analysis i.e we might be getting 'false' readings based on the origins of isotopes released through volcanic activity rather than the geographic location of the person" ?

unlikely due to to
a)rapid dilution in the environment soon after volcanic ejecta deposited (especially if not close to source) and need for high residence time (chemically and in hydrological systems) to significantly affect organic hard tissue
b)pre-existing elemental distributions - areas of high volcanic activity might leave elemental/isotopic signitures in 'local' populations - but this would still be 'distinct' geographically - not sure about pyroclastic istope production as source of long lived(ie archaeologically detecable) isotopes distinct from other potential sources (equifinality) - would guess that high energy conditions allows for higher proportions of 'unstable' compounds and isotopes, and therefore not amenable to archaeological detection - however short lived (days to months) isotopes are successfully used to trace present day 'pollution' and hydrological/meteorological systems...

Isolating signature of single volcanic eruption in tooth? - no
Identifying repeated inputs of pyroclasticly generated material ingested material in hard organic tissue? - perhaps possible, if population close to repeated source... - however, its unlikely for contemporary volcanic production to overwrite signatures of basal geological and dominant meteorological conditions - even then weak traces with multiple possible sources will always be subject to equifinality problems - - given that most populations can not be considered as 'close' to contemporary volcanic activity, it must be assumed that dominant local hydrological-geological still pertain - populations living close to contemporary surface volcanism are very likely to be also sitting on top of volcanic substrates, with concomitant effect on biological uptake...thus, 'normal' problems of drinking water composition identification and 'normal' problems of isotope+elemental sourcing apply...

[Dinosaur]

I'll take all that as a 'no' to my original question then! Just a thought....

I'm a big fan of isotope analysis on teeth so far - only had one done, but it managed to place my Norwegian viking in Norway :face-approve:
If you've seen the results from the Lankhills cemetery they're fascinating and potentially re-writing later Roman history on a continental scale, am hoping those nice people at the BGS manage to get the funding for more research work to expand their late Roman/Migration Period study since I've got a load of bodies potentially in the mix [yes, BAJR, we do try and get some 'academic' spin-off from commercial jobs over and above what's strictly neccessary to fulfil the contract or the client is prepared to pay for...] :face-huh:

[BAJR]

[yes, BAJR, we do try and get some 'academic' spin-off from commercial jobs over and above what's strictly neccessary to fulfil the contract or the client is prepared to pay for...] :face-huh:

sure the client is thrilled academic spin off is slightly different from client paying OR company kindly sacrificing profit to get those samples processed.
Though I take it that the nice people at the BGS woud be the ones actualy paying for it. :face-thinks:

There is potential for opening up opportunities like this for research via commercial project data. but this would take some real joined up thinking.
Fascinating results all round from the Lankhills Cemetry though from Oxford Arch. and Reading Uni...
http://planetearth.nerc.ac.uk/news/story.aspx?id=537

[Dinosaur]

Actually our client couldn't give a t*** and EH weren't interested when funding the original PX programme, it's a private enterprise venture by myself and the finds manager, although with company blessing.....dunno where the isotope guys get their money from, SRC?

I agree completely about the need for joined-up thinking, but in the meantime we'll just to have to carry on with the 'we've got this stuff, no one wants to throw any money into the mix but is there anyone out there who wants to do anything with it?' -approach

Site's a discrete small Lankhills-type cemetery dug in the '90s (2nd largest group of crossbow-brooch burials in UK after Lankhills, but 200 miles north in North Yorkshire), interestingly it's not mixed up within a background burial population as at Lankhills (so we know we're looking at a distinct group of people with very different burial customs to their contemporaries in the nearby Roman town, so in this case even the couple of unaccompanied burials can be regarded as part of the group), but it is parked on one end of an Anglian cemetery.....:face-huh:

[monograph's been in the 'forthcoming' category so long I'm going to have to send several weeks re-writing/updating chunks of it at some point :face-crying:]

[BAJR]

:0) it'll get there... why does all the good stuff take so long that by teh time it comes out, the next generation are already dismissing it..

THis is always going to be a trouble... finding teh funding for the interesting bit... ie... taking the 400 samples, the 8 kilos of bone, 2500 potsherds and then doing stuff! ratehr than just listing it at teh back of a grey lit and having a specialist look at it for 3 hours to confirm it is a potsherd.. and yes could be roman... SIGH

pps..

for volcanic pronouncation...

[video=youtube;9jq-sMZtSww]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jq-sMZtSww[/video]

[Dinosaur]

:0) it'll get there... why does all the good stuff take so long that by teh time it comes out, the next generation are already dismissing it.

Ah, but as long as it never gets published I can keep it up to date - also I've met lots of wonderful people and made loads of useful contacts since they keep having to come directly to me for info

In retrospect 750ish pages over 2 volumes may have been an error for quick and easy publication :face-huh:

[BAJR]

yup... keep it slick and cool... like a short video!

[video=youtube;5BjZRQQTloQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BjZRQQTloQ[/video]

[Jack]

:face-rain:Quick note: Having lived in an area of volcanic activity for a number of years, i can say that acid rain is an issue and that personal health issues that may arise are asthma, recurring headaches, throat and eye irritation, etc. Particularly in those areas of volcanic gas and damp or fog, the pyroclastic particles can travel farther, linger longer, threaten plants, effect uv and sunlight in terms of photosynthesis and other processes, it can be a serious matter should it last for long periods.

I wasn't full aware of that..........but it makes sense though. I wonder how much the cloud will effect us, it being so high up. But i guess its gotta come back down somewhere.

It is by no means an optimum situation to work or live in so I hope that the volcano dies back for the sake of many who live in the sweep of the plumes.

Me too! I also wonder how much it'll effect the climate

[Dinosaur]

Fascinating results all round from the Lankhills Cemetry though from Oxford Arch. and Reading Uni...
http://planetearth.nerc.ac.uk/news/story.aspx?id=537

If anyone's interested the article on that site's a bit thin, better to get someone with a card to raid a library and get Journal of Archaeological Science 33 (2006), 265-272, nothing about the site but does the isotope stuff justice. Sadly typing 'Lankhills' into the search on the OA site just gets you someone who worked there's CV :face-crying:

Luckily I have my own private sources