Pre-Columbian lead pollution from Native American galena processing and land use in the midcontinental United States

Broxton W Bird,Harvie J Pollard,George D Kamenov,Jaime Escobar,G William Monaghn,Jeremy J Wilson

doi:10.1130/g46673.1

Abstract

Abstract The presence and sources of pre-Columbian (before 1492 CE) lead (Pb) pollution in the midcontinental United States were investigated using geochemical and Pb isotope analyses on sediment cores recovered from Avery Lake, a floodplain lake located directly adjacent to the Kincaid Mounds archaeological site on the lower Ohio River, Illinois. Geochemical results indicate the presence of Pb pollution during the Baumer (300 BCE to 300 CE) and Mississippian (1150–1450 CE) occupations, and since the 1800s. Pb isotope results link Mississippian Pb pollution to the processing and use of galena primarily from southeastern and/or central Missouri, and to a lesser extent the upper Mississippi River valley, with ∼1.5 t (metric tons) of galena-derived Pb deposited in Avery Lake during this time. Pb pollution during the Baumer phase, equating to ∼0.4 t of Pb, was not accompanied by a Pb isotope excursion and most likely originated from local biomass burning. These results provide new information about the environmental impacts associated with pre-Columbian Native Americans’ interaction with and utilization of their landscape and its resources.

Highlights

Archaeological records indicate that galena (PbS, a lead-sulfide mineral and primary lead ore) was utilized by pre-Columbian Native American populations in eastern North America for nearly 10,000 yr (Walthall, 1981)
While some evidence has indicated that pre-Columbian societies generated limited lead (Pb) pollution as a biproduct of copper mining (Pompeani et al, 2013) and biomass burning (Bird et al, 2019; Pompeani et al, 2019), there has been no conclusive evidence that the extraction, trade, and use of galena resulted in environmental impacts
We suggest that biomass burning plausibly accounts for the excess Pb deposited in Avery Lake during this time, given that Pb is an important component of biomass combustion products (Larson and Koenig, 1994) and pre-Columbian societies are known to have extensively used fire

Summary

Introduction

Archaeological records indicate that galena (PbS, a lead-sulfide mineral and primary lead ore) was utilized by pre-Columbian Native American populations in eastern North America for nearly 10,000 yr (Walthall, 1981). While some evidence has indicated that pre-Columbian societies generated limited lead (Pb) pollution as a biproduct of copper mining (Pompeani et al, 2013) and biomass burning (Bird et al, 2019; Pompeani et al, 2019), there has been no conclusive evidence that the extraction, trade, and use of galena resulted in environmental impacts This contrasts with other regions with long histories of Pb ore utilization, like Europe and South America, where early Pb pollution signals are widely distributed and well preserved in natural archives (e.g., Bränvall et al, 2001; Cooke et al, 2008). Site-specific investigations are required to uncover environmental impacts associated with pre-Columbian galena use

Methods

Results

Conclusion