Hidden dangers? An investigation of volcanic and environmental impacts on human health and life in historical Iceland
Volcanic eruptions can cause significant human health and environmental threats both during and after their event due to the hazardous materials and gases that are actively or passively released into the surrounding environment. Historical records suggest that severe historic eruptions in Iceland ca...
Main Author: | |
---|---|
Other Authors: | , , , , , , |
Format: | Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis |
Language: | English |
Published: |
University of Iceland, School of Humanities, Faculty of History and Philosophy
2021
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11815/2516 |
id |
ftopinvisindi:oai:opinvisindi.is:20.500.11815/2516 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftopinvisindi:oai:opinvisindi.is:20.500.11815/2516 2023-05-15T16:34:03+02:00 Hidden dangers? An investigation of volcanic and environmental impacts on human health and life in historical Iceland Walser III, Joe Steinunn Kristjánsdóttir Sagnfræði- og heimspekideild (HÍ) Faculty of History and Philosophy (UI) Hugvísindasvið (HÍ) School of Humanities (UI) Háskóli Íslands University of Iceland 2021-03 https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11815/2516 en eng University of Iceland, School of Humanities, Faculty of History and Philosophy 978-9935-9563-0-9 https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11815/2516 info:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccess Osteology Palaeopathology Bioarchaeology Archaeometry Isotope Trace element Fluorosis Syphilis Medicine Physical anthropology Iceland Volcano Eruption Poisoning Provenance Diet Fornleifafræði Eldgos Heilsufar Líkamsmannfræði Doktorsritgerðir info:eu-repo/semantics/doctoralThesis 2021 ftopinvisindi https://doi.org/20.500.11815/2516 2022-11-18T06:52:08Z Volcanic eruptions can cause significant human health and environmental threats both during and after their event due to the hazardous materials and gases that are actively or passively released into the surrounding environment. Historical records suggest that severe historic eruptions in Iceland caused mass mortality to livestock, famine, altered weather and led to the contamination of water and air, all of which significantly impacted the health and living condition of people in the past. The aim of the project was to investigate the effects of volcanic eruptions on human health across Icelandic history, as well as the impacts of the anthropogenic use of heavy metals (e.g., Hg, As, Pb) and climate change (e.g., cooling weather during the Little Ice Age). The study used a range of different methods but mainly analyses on human and animal bones and soil samples. Standard osteological analyses were conducted on skeletal individuals (n=186) from archaeological sites (n=7) across Iceland dated between the 10th and the 19th century. Samples were then collected for further analyses: human bone (n=36) and teeth samples (n=31), as well as animal bone samples (n=23) and soil samples (n=13), which were selected from the monastic-hospital site of Skriðuklaustur (AD 1493-1554). In addition to previously published comparative data, bone samples (n=14) and soil samples (n=9) were selected from a farm site, called Skeljastaðir, which was abandoned during the AD 1104 eruption of the nearby volcano Hekla. Standard osteological and palaeopathological methods were used for the skeletal analysis and anthropological descriptions. Microscopy, radiography, endoscopy, and other specialized techniques were used where necessary. Isotope (δ18O, 87Sr/86Sr, δ13C) and trace element (Hg, Pb, Cd, As, Zn, Sb, Ba, Sr) analysis of dental enamel was undertaken to investigate geographic provenance and possible exposure to toxic emissions during childhood. At the same time, isotope ratio mass spectometry of bone collagen samples (δ13C, δ15N, δ34S) ... Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis Hekla Iceland Opin vísindi (Iceland) Skriðuklaustur ENVELOPE(-14.979,-14.979,65.044,65.044) |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Opin vísindi (Iceland) |
op_collection_id |
ftopinvisindi |
language |
English |
topic |
Osteology Palaeopathology Bioarchaeology Archaeometry Isotope Trace element Fluorosis Syphilis Medicine Physical anthropology Iceland Volcano Eruption Poisoning Provenance Diet Fornleifafræði Eldgos Heilsufar Líkamsmannfræði Doktorsritgerðir |
spellingShingle |
Osteology Palaeopathology Bioarchaeology Archaeometry Isotope Trace element Fluorosis Syphilis Medicine Physical anthropology Iceland Volcano Eruption Poisoning Provenance Diet Fornleifafræði Eldgos Heilsufar Líkamsmannfræði Doktorsritgerðir Walser III, Joe Hidden dangers? An investigation of volcanic and environmental impacts on human health and life in historical Iceland |
topic_facet |
Osteology Palaeopathology Bioarchaeology Archaeometry Isotope Trace element Fluorosis Syphilis Medicine Physical anthropology Iceland Volcano Eruption Poisoning Provenance Diet Fornleifafræði Eldgos Heilsufar Líkamsmannfræði Doktorsritgerðir |
description |
Volcanic eruptions can cause significant human health and environmental threats both during and after their event due to the hazardous materials and gases that are actively or passively released into the surrounding environment. Historical records suggest that severe historic eruptions in Iceland caused mass mortality to livestock, famine, altered weather and led to the contamination of water and air, all of which significantly impacted the health and living condition of people in the past. The aim of the project was to investigate the effects of volcanic eruptions on human health across Icelandic history, as well as the impacts of the anthropogenic use of heavy metals (e.g., Hg, As, Pb) and climate change (e.g., cooling weather during the Little Ice Age). The study used a range of different methods but mainly analyses on human and animal bones and soil samples. Standard osteological analyses were conducted on skeletal individuals (n=186) from archaeological sites (n=7) across Iceland dated between the 10th and the 19th century. Samples were then collected for further analyses: human bone (n=36) and teeth samples (n=31), as well as animal bone samples (n=23) and soil samples (n=13), which were selected from the monastic-hospital site of Skriðuklaustur (AD 1493-1554). In addition to previously published comparative data, bone samples (n=14) and soil samples (n=9) were selected from a farm site, called Skeljastaðir, which was abandoned during the AD 1104 eruption of the nearby volcano Hekla. Standard osteological and palaeopathological methods were used for the skeletal analysis and anthropological descriptions. Microscopy, radiography, endoscopy, and other specialized techniques were used where necessary. Isotope (δ18O, 87Sr/86Sr, δ13C) and trace element (Hg, Pb, Cd, As, Zn, Sb, Ba, Sr) analysis of dental enamel was undertaken to investigate geographic provenance and possible exposure to toxic emissions during childhood. At the same time, isotope ratio mass spectometry of bone collagen samples (δ13C, δ15N, δ34S) ... |
author2 |
Steinunn Kristjánsdóttir Sagnfræði- og heimspekideild (HÍ) Faculty of History and Philosophy (UI) Hugvísindasvið (HÍ) School of Humanities (UI) Háskóli Íslands University of Iceland |
format |
Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis |
author |
Walser III, Joe |
author_facet |
Walser III, Joe |
author_sort |
Walser III, Joe |
title |
Hidden dangers? An investigation of volcanic and environmental impacts on human health and life in historical Iceland |
title_short |
Hidden dangers? An investigation of volcanic and environmental impacts on human health and life in historical Iceland |
title_full |
Hidden dangers? An investigation of volcanic and environmental impacts on human health and life in historical Iceland |
title_fullStr |
Hidden dangers? An investigation of volcanic and environmental impacts on human health and life in historical Iceland |
title_full_unstemmed |
Hidden dangers? An investigation of volcanic and environmental impacts on human health and life in historical Iceland |
title_sort |
hidden dangers? an investigation of volcanic and environmental impacts on human health and life in historical iceland |
publisher |
University of Iceland, School of Humanities, Faculty of History and Philosophy |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11815/2516 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-14.979,-14.979,65.044,65.044) |
geographic |
Skriðuklaustur |
geographic_facet |
Skriðuklaustur |
genre |
Hekla Iceland |
genre_facet |
Hekla Iceland |
op_relation |
978-9935-9563-0-9 https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11815/2516 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/20.500.11815/2516 |
_version_ |
1766023807257018368 |