Samples from ancient times

Chemistry offers a reliable method of extracting information from a large variety of archaeological finds. Some of the most important of these are human remains. Human remains from ancient times are usually skeletons, as the soft tissues of the body decompose quickly. But in Egypt and a few other places, archaeologists have discovered more complete samples. Wealthy Egyptians, believing in an afterlife that required maintenance of the body, were often preserved after death. These... 

The development of archaeology brings us lots of sanq>les from ancient times. Pol3mieric samples, such as fibers, are included in the artifacts. These samples are very useful in an understanding of the prevailing culture at the time when the samples were produced. However, there are some limitations to such studies. A typical limitation pertains to physical properties of polymeric materials. The passage of time may induce degradation of the polymer. The... 

Archaeologists can test the assumption that the ratio of to was the same in ancient times as it is now by dating a sample of wood of known age. The age of a particular sample of wood from the cross section of a tree (Figure 21.4) can be determined by counting the annual rings, and then testing a portion of the wood from an inner ring. 

Figure 8 Vertical profiles of dissolved lead in the central North Atlantic (34° 15 N, 66° 17 W data from Schaule and Patterson, 1983), the central North Pacific (32°41 N, 145°W data from Schaule and Patterson, 1981), and the central South Pacific (20°S, 160°W source Regal and Patterson, 1983). Estimates of the atmospheric input at the time of sampling and in ancient times prior to the large anthropogenic lead input are also shown (Flegal and...

Elemental sulfur (S) has been known since ancient times, its name coming from both Sanskrit (sulvere) and Latin (sulfurium). In 1808, a sulfur dioxide sample was burned to release the oxygen, but it was found to contain hydrogen as a contaminant. Eventually it was truly purified and was then verified to be an element as suggested by French chemist Antoine Lavoisier. 

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