Dulasiri Amarasiriwardena
Biographic Data
| ID | 175355 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Dulasiri Amarasiriwardena |
| GIVEN NAMES | Dulasiri |
| FAMILY NAME | Amarasiriwardena |
| SIGNATURE | AMARASIRIWARDENA D |
| AFFILIATIONS | Hampshire College |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-7004-746X |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 8 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 19 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 8 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2005 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Yesterday's problems are here to stay: Invisible exposure to geogenic metal (loid)s of arsenic, boron, and lithium in the Atacama Desert
In this paper, we review the three natural contaminants (arsenic, boron, and lithium) that affected the ancient Andean populations of northern Chile. We debate the natural setting and the toxicity of these elements upon ancient populations exposed and their biocultural significance. This review demonstrates that recent advances in sensitive analytical atomic and mass spectrometry methods have immensely contributed to understanding the extent of e…
Environmental arsenic exposure by ancient Andeans: Measurement of As in mummy hair using LA-ICP-MS
An archaeometric approach to biocontamination with manganese pigments in ancient marine hunter-gatherers of the Atacama Desert: Health, Ideological, and Socioecononic Considerations
The use of poisonous pigments for mortuary preparation in ancient hunter-gatherers allows us to investigate the relationship between this practice with socio-economic organization, mortuary ideology, and potential impacts on human health from overexposure to these dangerous compounds. About 6000 years ago, the Chinchorro people, maritime hunter-gatherers in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile, began mining manganese to ornament the dead, represent…
Use of LA-ICP-MS to evaluate mercury exposure or diagenesis in Inca and non-Inca mummies from northern Chile
Five thousand years of bellyaches: Exploring boron concentration in ancient populations of the Atacama Desert
OBJECTIVES: This study explores whether ancient Atacama Desert populations in northern Chile were exposed to endemic boron contamination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), we studied 144 strands of ancient mummy hair, ranging from 3000 B.C. to 1500 A.D., excavated from the Lluta, Azapa, and Camarones valleys in northern Chile. We tested whether these ancient populations showed si…
Exposure to geogenic lithium in ancient Andeans: Unraveling lithium in mummy hair using LA-ICP-MS
Living in poisoning environments: Invisible risks and human adaptation
This article describes the hidden natural chemical contaminants present in a unique desert environment and their health consequences on ancient populations. Currently, millions of people are affected worldwide by toxic elements such as arsenic. Using data gathered from Atacama Desert mummies, we discuss long‐term exposure and biocultural adaptation to toxic elements. The rivers that bring life to the Atacama Desert are paradoxically laden with ar…
Variation in elemental intensities among teeth and between pre‐ and postnatal regions of enamel
Microspatial analyses of the trace element composition of dental enamel are made possible using laser ablation‐inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS). Fine spatial resolution, multielement capabilities, and minimal sample destruction make this technique particularly well‐suited for documenting the distribution of elements in sequentially calcifying layers of enamel. Because deciduous enamel forms from week 13 in utero up to 9 mo…
Variation in elemental intensities among teeth and between pre‐ and postnatal regions of enamel
Microspatial analyses of the trace element composition of dental enamel are made possible using laser ablation‐inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS). Fine spatial resolution, multielement capabilities, and minimal sample destruction make this technique particularly well‐suited for documenting the distribution of elements in sequentially calcifying layers of enamel. Because deciduous enamel forms from week 13 in utero up to 9 mo…
Exposure to geogenic lithium in ancient Andeans: Unraveling lithium in mummy hair using LA-ICP-MS
An archaeometric approach to biocontamination with manganese pigments in ancient marine hunter-gatherers of the Atacama Desert: Health, Ideological, and Socioecononic Considerations
The use of poisonous pigments for mortuary preparation in ancient hunter-gatherers allows us to investigate the relationship between this practice with socio-economic organization, mortuary ideology, and potential impacts on human health from overexposure to these dangerous compounds. About 6000 years ago, the Chinchorro people, maritime hunter-gatherers in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile, began mining manganese to ornament the dead, represent…
Five thousand years of bellyaches: Exploring boron concentration in ancient populations of the Atacama Desert
OBJECTIVES: This study explores whether ancient Atacama Desert populations in northern Chile were exposed to endemic boron contamination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), we studied 144 strands of ancient mummy hair, ranging from 3000 B.C. to 1500 A.D., excavated from the Lluta, Azapa, and Camarones valleys in northern Chile. We tested whether these ancient populations showed si…
Yesterday's problems are here to stay: Invisible exposure to geogenic metal (loid)s of arsenic, boron, and lithium in the Atacama Desert
In this paper, we review the three natural contaminants (arsenic, boron, and lithium) that affected the ancient Andean populations of northern Chile. We debate the natural setting and the toxicity of these elements upon ancient populations exposed and their biocultural significance. This review demonstrates that recent advances in sensitive analytical atomic and mass spectrometry methods have immensely contributed to understanding the extent of e…
Environmental arsenic exposure by ancient Andeans: Measurement of As in mummy hair using LA-ICP-MS
Use of LA-ICP-MS to evaluate mercury exposure or diagenesis in Inca and non-Inca mummies from northern Chile
Variation in elemental intensities among teeth and between pre‐ and postnatal regions of enamel
Microspatial analyses of the trace element composition of dental enamel are made possible using laser ablation‐inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS). Fine spatial resolution, multielement capabilities, and minimal sample destruction make this technique particularly well‐suited for documenting the distribution of elements in sequentially calcifying layers of enamel. Because deciduous enamel forms from week 13 in utero up to 9 mo…
Living in poisoning environments: Invisible risks and human adaptation
This article describes the hidden natural chemical contaminants present in a unique desert environment and their health consequences on ancient populations. Currently, millions of people are affected worldwide by toxic elements such as arsenic. Using data gathered from Atacama Desert mummies, we discuss long‐term exposure and biocultural adaptation to toxic elements. The rivers that bring life to the Atacama Desert are paradoxically laden with ar…
Exposure to geogenic lithium in ancient Andeans: Unraveling lithium in mummy hair using LA-ICP-MS
Five thousand years of bellyaches: Exploring boron concentration in ancient populations of the Atacama Desert
OBJECTIVES: This study explores whether ancient Atacama Desert populations in northern Chile were exposed to endemic boron contamination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), we studied 144 strands of ancient mummy hair, ranging from 3000 B.C. to 1500 A.D., excavated from the Lluta, Azapa, and Camarones valleys in northern Chile. We tested whether these ancient populations showed si…
Use of LA-ICP-MS to evaluate mercury exposure or diagenesis in Inca and non-Inca mummies from northern Chile
Environmental arsenic exposure by ancient Andeans: Measurement of As in mummy hair using LA-ICP-MS
An archaeometric approach to biocontamination with manganese pigments in ancient marine hunter-gatherers of the Atacama Desert: Health, Ideological, and Socioecononic Considerations
The use of poisonous pigments for mortuary preparation in ancient hunter-gatherers allows us to investigate the relationship between this practice with socio-economic organization, mortuary ideology, and potential impacts on human health from overexposure to these dangerous compounds. About 6000 years ago, the Chinchorro people, maritime hunter-gatherers in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile, began mining manganese to ornament the dead, represent…
Yesterday's problems are here to stay: Invisible exposure to geogenic metal (loid)s of arsenic, boron, and lithium in the Atacama Desert
In this paper, we review the three natural contaminants (arsenic, boron, and lithium) that affected the ancient Andean populations of northern Chile. We debate the natural setting and the toxicity of these elements upon ancient populations exposed and their biocultural significance. This review demonstrates that recent advances in sensitive analytical atomic and mass spectrometry methods have immensely contributed to understanding the extent of e…
Archaeology (7 works) · Chemistry (7 works) · Geography (7 works) · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies (4 works) · Heavy Metal Exposure and Toxicity (4 works) · Paleopathology and ancient diseases (4 works) · Arsenic (3 works) · Biology (3 works) · Geology (3 works) · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies (2 works)