As part of his PhD research at the AMGC group of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Dr Tom Boonants examined calcium-rich samples, including cremated bone remains from the archaeological site of Eenbeekheide in Destelbergen (Belgium) and several sites in the Novo Mesto region of Slovenia. By measuring the concentrations and isotopic composition of strontium in these bones, he was able to trace changes in diet across different historical periods. The study offers fresh insights into the daily habits of our ancestors.
To do this, Boonants used advanced mass spectrometry techniques. “Mass spectrometry has played a key role in (geo)chemistry for decades—first in industry, and more recently in archaeology and even climate research,” says Dr Tom Boonants, who successfully defended his PhD in early March. “In my thesis, I used a series of case studies to explore some of the latest developments in the field. I tested several commonly used techniques to see how accurately they could quantify strontium levels in calcium-rich samples. With the optimised methods, I carried out bioarchaeological analyses on cremated bone remains from Destelbergen and three sites in southeastern Slovenia. The results were then interpreted in their archaeological context.”
The excavations in Destelbergen took place several decades ago. “Together with my VUB–UGent colleague Dr Sarah Dalle, who led the study, we found that the people who lived at the site during the Metal Ages consumed significantly less salt than those who lived there in the later Gallo-Roman period,” Boonants explains.
That’s a striking finding, especially since many Iron Age sites in the western part of present-day Belgium are believed to have been involved in salt production and trade. “We concluded that the Gallo-Roman population likely used more salt to preserve their food—curing meat, fish and other products was probably standard practice.”
The findings from the Slovenian sites were equally intriguing. In several urns, the cremated remains of more than one person were discovered. “One urn, for instance, contained bones from at least two individuals whose dates of death were separated by at least fifty years,” Boonants says. “The bones didn’t suggest a different geographic origin, but they did show a clear difference in diet. What caused that shift? Did the later individual eat more vegetables—or more salt? Was there a specific event that changed their food habits? We don’t yet have a definitive answer. But future research could help fill in the blanks.”
All the analyses were carried out using the ultra-precise mass spectrometers housed in the AMGC labs at VUB—facilities also used by researchers from our French-speaking sister university, ULB. “Being able to study materials in such detail—analysing their chemical composition, the ratio of elements, and the balance of isotopes—is a major scientific advantage,” Boonants concludes. “It’s an essential part of any modern research lab today.”*
*This is a machine translation. We apologise for any inaccuracies.