Photos-Jones E, Knapp C W, Venieri D, Christidis G E, Elgy C, Valsami-Jones E, Gounaki I, Andriopoulou N C
Analytical Services for Art and Archaeology (Ltd), Glasgow G12 8JD, UK.
Archaeology, School of Humanities, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.
J Archaeol Sci Rep. 2018 Dec;22:179-192. doi: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2018.07.017.
This paper introduces a holistic approach to the study of Greco-Roman (G-R) lithotherapeutics. These are the minerals or mineral combinations that appear in the medical and scientific literature of the G-R world. It argues that they can best be described not simply in terms of their bulk chemistry/mineralogy but also their ecological microbiology and nanofraction component. It suggests that each individual attribute may have underpinned the bioactivity of the lithotherapeutic as an antibacterial, antifungal or other. We focus on , the highly prized, naturally fine, red iron oxide-based mineral used as a pigment, in boat maintenance, agriculture and medicine. Five samples (four geological (from Kea, N. Cyclades) and one archaeological (from Lemnos, NE Aegean)) of were analyzed with physical and biological science techniques. We show that: a. Kean and Lemnian earth/ must have been chemically and mineralogically different; b. Lemnian must have been more effective as an antibacterial against specific pathogens (Gram + and Gram - bacteria) than its Kean counterpart; c. two samples of Kean , although similar, chemically, mineralogically and eco-microbiologically (phylum/class level), nevertheless, displayed different antibacterial action. We suggest that this may constitute proof of microbial ecology playing an important role in effecting bioactivity and, interestingly, at the more specific genus/species level. From the perspective of the historian of G-R science, we suggest that it may have been on account of its bioactivity, rather than simply its 'red-staining' effect, that gained prominent entry into the scientific and medical literature of the G-R world.
本文介绍了一种研究希腊罗马（G-R）石疗法的整体方法。这些是在希腊罗马世界的医学和科学文献中出现的矿物质或矿物质组合。文章认为，对它们的最佳描述不仅应依据其整体化学/矿物学，还应考虑其生态微生物学和纳米级成分。文章指出，每种单独的属性可能是石疗法作为抗菌、抗真菌或其他用途生物活性的基础。我们聚焦于，一种备受珍视的、天然细腻的、基于红色氧化铁的矿物质，它被用作颜料、用于船只维护、农业和医学。我们运用物理和生物科学技术对五个样本（四个地质样本（来自基阿岛，北基克拉泽斯群岛）和一个考古样本（来自利姆诺斯岛，爱琴海东北部））进行了分析。我们发现：a. 基阿岛的和利姆诺斯岛的泥土/必定在化学和矿物学上存在差异；b. 利姆诺斯岛的在针对特定病原体（革兰氏阳性菌和革兰氏阴性菌）的抗菌效果上必定比基阿岛的同类物质更有效；c. 基阿岛的两个样本，尽管在化学、矿物学和生态微生物学（门/纲水平）上相似，但仍表现出不同的抗菌作用。我们认为，这可能证明微生物生态学在影响生物活性方面发挥着重要作用，有趣的是，在更具体的属/种水平上。从希腊罗马科学史学家的角度来看，我们认为进入希腊罗马世界的科学和医学文献并受到关注，可能是因其生物活性，而非仅仅因其“染色”效果。
