Inorganic component in oak waterlogged archaeological wood and volcanic lake compartments
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Published:2023-08-01
Issue:15
Volume:20
Page:3137-3149
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ISSN:1726-4189
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Container-title:Biogeosciences
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language:en
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Short-container-title:Biogeosciences
Author:
Sidoti Giancarlo, Antonelli Federica, Galotta Giulia, Moscatelli Maria Cristina, Kržišnik DavorORCID, Vinciguerra Vittorio, Tamantini SwatiORCID, Marabottini Rosita, Macro Natalia, Romagnoli ManuelaORCID
Abstract
Abstract. Waterlogged archaeological wood (WAW) is a rare and
precious organic material that can hold outstanding cultural values. In
order to protect WAW for the next generations, this material must be
accurately characterised to set its proper conservation, storage and
exhibition conditions in museum environments. In this study, the mineral
content found in WAW retrieved in a volcanic lake was investigated by
analysing wood ash through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with
energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). This micro-destructive approach
was coupled with morphological studies carried out through optical
microscopy. SEM-EDS was also performed on the WAW and surrounding sediment
to study the possible relationship between the mineral composition and the
wood degradation state. The analysis revealed that calcium was the most
abundant element in all poles, with weight percentages ranging between 24 % and 42 %. This element was more represented in heartwood (HW) than sapwood (SW). In sapwood the second most abundant element was arsenic. Sulfur, iron and potassium were present in all the analysed samples as well. Arsenic was also detected in the sediments; it was particularly concentrated in the samples taken near archaeological wood. The presence of this element can be linked to the volcanic origin of the lake, and its high concentration
points to bioaccumulation processes induced by bacteria (erosion bacteria
and sulfate-reducing bacteria) and biogeochemical processes favouring
precipitation of insoluble compounds. The present work is the first
investigation of the mineral content in archaeological wood establishing a
contingent relationship with the surrounding volcanic lake sediments.
Funder
Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca
Publisher
Copernicus GmbH
Subject
Earth-Surface Processes,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
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