| Popis: |
Skeleton remains and soil samples, recovered from the central tomb of the Church of Our Lady, Bruges, were analyzed for their major, minor and trace element content by means of instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and Rutherford back-scattering (RBS). The results indicated that the reddish brown patinaed surface layer of the skeleton remains had a lead content of the order of 8 to 241, whereas that in the onderlying normal looking bone tissue was only 0.6%. The soil samples, recovered from inside the skull also showed abnormally high lead contents. It is concluded that the lead in the bone is of exogenous origin, ultimately originating from the lead coffin in which the body was buried. It is further suggested that the high lead concentration in the surface layer of the skeleton may be responsible for its reddish brown colour. |
