ISIS@MACH - Cinnabar mining and chronic mercury exposure in ancient populations

Mercury from cinnabar, a natural mineral mined in ancient times for use as a red pigment, can accumulate in bones by ingestion and through the skin. The non-destructive analysis of ancient bones and other cultural-heritage specimens to detect the amount of cinnabar, or mercury in general, is a precious capability so as to elucidate several archaeological queries. The Spaccasasso site in Tuscany, Italy, after mining exploitation dated back to the late 5th, was used for funerary practices from 4th to early 3rd millennium BC. Following a preliminary analysis of a few samples, and inspired by earlier investigations in the literature, we propose a combined investigation using neutron-based techniques so as to answer these questions. Neutron experiments at the VESUVIO beamline at ISIS pulsed neutron and muon source, will be performed through the Neutron Gate of ISIS@MACH.