Was He Murdered or Was He Not?Part II: Multi-Elemental Analyses of Hair and Bone Samples from Tycho Brahe and Histopathology of His Bones

0482511 - ÚJF 2018 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Kučera, Jan - Rasmussen, K.L. - Kameník, Jan - Kubešová, Marie - Skytte, L. - Povýšil, C. - Karpenko, V. - Havránek, Vladimír - Velemínský, P. - Lynnerup, N. - Brůžek, J. - Smolík, Jiří - Vellev, J.
Was He Murdered or Was He Not?Part II: Multi-Elemental Analyses of Hair and Bone Samples from Tycho Brahe and Histopathology of His Bones.
Archaeometry. Roč. 59, č. 5 (2017), s. 918-933. ISSN 0003-813X. E-ISSN 1475-4754
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GBP108/12/G108; GA MŠMT LM2015056
Institutional support: RVO:61389005 ; RVO:67985858
Keywords : Tycho Brahe * hair * bones * trace elemental analysis * time trends * bone histopathology
OECD category: Analytical chemistry; Physical chemistry (UCHP-M)
Impact factor: 1.545, year: 2017

Hair and bone samples procured from the remains of Tycho Brahe were analysed by several analytical techniques. In segmented hair samples, concentrations of Fe, As, Ag and Au at the tips exceeded values for the contemporary population. However, they decreased towards the hair bulbs, similarly to Hg, indicating that recent exposure that was discontinued similar to 2months prior to Brahe's death. Several other elements did not follow this pattern. Analyses of bones revealed signs of long-term exposure to Au, while many other elements were within expected ranges. Histopathological examination of bone sections yielded no signs of severe bone metabolic disorders.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0277937