Science
Ancient Teeth Reveal Origins of Britain's Medieval Lead Industry
Archaeologists have uncovered the first definitive evidence of when post-Roman lead production began in the Derbyshire Peak District, one of Europe's largest medieval lead-producing regions. Centuries of extensive mining had previously erased much of the physical archaeological evidence at the sites. The groundbreaking research, recently published in the journal Antiquity, utilized analysis of ancient human teeth to trace both the chronological origins and the direct physiological impact of this heavy metal industry on early populations.