PHOSPHATES IN ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDS: IMPLICATIONS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS OF BURIAL*
Lara MaritanDipartimento di Mineralogia e Petrologia, Università di Padova, Corso Garibaldi 37, I-35137 Padova, ItalyClaudio MazzoliDipartimento di Mineralogia e Petrologia, Università di Padova, Corso Garibaldi 37, I-35137 Padova, Italy
2004en
ABI
Abstract
The occurrence of coarse‐grained vivianite and mitridatite aggregates in a potsherd, a grand ring and a timber imprint from the Second Iron Age site of Adria (Rovigo, northeastern Italy) suggest contrasting environmental conditions of burial. In particular, bone fragments were replaced by vivianite at relatively low pH and Eh, due to the presence of deteriorating organic matter, together with slag and iron flakes. Subsequent interactions with Ca‐rich groundwater characterized by higher pH and Eh determined the growth of mitridatite after vivianite. Although phosphates crystallized after burial, the examined samples were not involved in pervasive chemical contamination.
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