Methodological strategy for the analysis of human dental enamel by LA-ICP-MS

The application of LA-ICP-MS to human dental enamel usually follows a methodological procedure that starts with the vertical sawing of the tooth in order to obtain a flat surface. However, the inner enamel can be accessed in archaeological teeth that are fractured for natural, taphonomic reasons, which reduces further damage to archaeological specimens by cutting them. This paper analyzes the differences in the counts of trace elements by laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry between a cut and broken surface from the same teeth. Results show that the two surfaces do not produce statistically different readings, which extends the possibility to apply this methodological procedure to archaeological remains that cannot be sectioned, and therefore reducing the amount of damage effected to important specimens.