Novel Methods of Isotope and Trace Element Analysis to Investigate Health and Disease in the Past

Isotope and trace element analyses of human tissues provide archaeologists with unique opportunities to make unprecedented inferences about health statuses and disease processes in the past. These chemical signatures are incorporated into human tissues during life and serve as proxies for the exogenous and in vivo environment in which a human body developed. Their use is well established within archaeology as a means of reconstructing and interpreting past diets and mobility patterns, however, recent developments in the field illustrate the potential, and the necessity, of considering pathophysiological factors when working with isotopes and trace elements.

Innovative interpretations of conventionally used elements—like carbon and nitrogen—as well as emerging research on less commonly applied isotopes—such as sulfur, oxygen, and hydrogen—are expanding the breadth and depth of biogeochemical analysis as a robust tool in palaeopathology. In addition, heavy metal trace elements provide a burgeoning platform for insight into the human-environment interactions that may perpetuate diseases related to anthropogenic industries. Ground-breaking methods utilizing multiple isotope systems and trace elements demonstrate great capacity to reveal nuances in the interpretation of health and disease etiologies and evolutions.

This Research Topic aims to highlight the techniques that are advancing biogeochemical research and the ways these techniques can be used to investigate aspects of human health within archaeology. We invite contributions that employ novel isotope and trace element approaches to explore health and disease in the past, building on our recent session at the European Association of Archaeologist’s 31st Annual Meeting. We welcome research focused on answering either methodological or biocultural questions and encourage interdisciplinary contributions that incorporate biomolecular techniques with historical and material evidence to provide holistic interpretations of health and disease systems in past societies.

Potential topics of consideration include, but are not limited to: Which elements can be utilized in the identification of disease patterns in the past? How do pathological conditions and past medical practices impact isotopes and trace elements?

Which interdisciplinary methods best supplement biogeochemical analysis in paleopathological studies? How does the integration of biogeochemical analysis shape the future of palaeopathology?

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... View all formats

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Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Biogeochemical analysis, Palaeopathology, Isotopes and trace elements, Health and disease reconstruction, Interdisciplinary archaeological methods

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.