The Atacama Desert was home to native Andeans including the Chinchorro (8000 – 3500 years BP) and the Inca (800 – 500 Years BP). The extremely arid conditions of the Atacama permit excellent preservation of mummified bodies from these ancient cultures. The analysis of mummy tissue allows evaluation of life health conditions in past populations. Thus, a high concentration of environmental lithium (Li) may have affected the lives of ancient Andeans and may also have implications for the health and wellbeing of contemporary populations of the region. Laser ablation inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) was used to determine the concentrations of <sup>7</sup>Li in ancient samples. The instrument was calibrated using pelletized GBW-07601 human hair standard. <sup>13</sup>C was used as an internal standard. A range of concentrations were found for Li across mummy hair strands from individuals excavated in three different river valleys in the Atacama Desert (range, mean ± std. dev., n): Azapa 0.01 – 1.17, 0.35 ± 0.36 µg/g, n = 69; Camarones 0.07 – 8.24, 1.49 ± 2.18 µg/g, n = 26; Lluta 3.16 – 6.52, 4.84 ± 2.38 µg/g, n = 2. Lithium concentrations in the hair of the Andean mummies were elevated when compared to studies of lithium in the hair of contemporary populations (0.04 – 0.05 µg/g). Hair of the mummies from the Camarones and Lluta river valleys had higher concentrations of Li than did those from the Azapa valley. This corresponds to the different concentration of Li observed in each river’s water.

Determination of lithium in Andean mummy hair using LA-ICP-MS

2019 Spring National Meeting

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