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6682292 
Journal Article 
Condemned to metallum? The origin and role of 4th-6th century AD Phaeno mining campresidents using multiple chemical techniques 
Perry, MA; Coleman, DS; Dettman, DL; Grattan, JR; Al-Shiyab, AH 
2011 
Yes 
Journal of Archaeological Science
ISSN: 0305-4403
EISSN: 1095-9238 
Elsevier 
LONDON 
38 
3 
558-569 
English 
WOS:000286954100009 
The Byzantine period (4th-7th centuries A.D.) site of Khirbet Faynan (Phaeno) was a state-run mining camp described in ancient sources as a destination for Christian martyrs and others prosecuted by the administration who were condemned to the mines (damnatio ad metallum). However, other evidence suggests that Phaeno had a much broader role and population in antiquity than that described by ancient writers. Here, strontium and oxygen isotope data on the level of migration into Phaeno were compared with elemental data on lead and copper skeletal levels to illuminate the varied exposure of local vs. non-local individuals to contaminated environments (presumably from working in mining and smelting operations). Dental enamel Sr-87/Sr-86 and 8180 data from 31 individuals excavated from the Southern Cemetery identified one individual born in a region with different strontium isotope values in the bedrock yet similar oxygen isotope signatures as Faynan. Most of the primarily locally-derived Faynan residents displayed skeletal copper and lead levels exceeding those seen in comparative samples, confirming that growing up and residing in the polluted environment of Faynan led to notable bioaccumulation of heavy metals and its resulting health effects. In addition, ten individuals had extremely elevated lead and copper levels in their skeleton resulting from more intensive exposure to contaminated environments, possibly through smelting and mining activities. These data confirm the relatively localized nature of this imperial operation and that this predominantly locally-derived population had different activities that put them ask varied risk for contamination by heavy metals. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 
Faynan; Jordan; Strontium isotopes; Oxygen isotopes; Lead; Copper; Byzantine 
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE