Análisis químico del cabello de momias prehispánicas

Abstract

This study represents an effort to introduce new data to Physical Anthropology as well as to integrate a variety of techniques used in Mexico for the very first time in order to determine the concentrations of trace elements in prehispanic mummy hair. The results were obtained by using X-ray Fluorescence (FRX), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA), Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and X-ray Diffraction (DRX). Also a comparison between ancient hair, modern hair and burial soil was made. The prehispanic samples showed higher concentrations in trace elements related with the environment, such as aluminum, potassium and silicon; later with the ancient washed hair, the results revealed a higher vegetable food intake than those of contemporary samples; this was principally demonstrated with the magnesium and zinc concentrations in both kinds of samples.