Archaeologists are now finding microplastics in ancient remains | CNN
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Microplastics have been found in historic soil samples for the first time, according to a new study, potentially upending the way archaeological remains are preserved.

Microplastics have been found in historic soil samples for the first time, according to a new study, potentially upending the way archaeological remains are preserved.

Researchers found microplastics in soil deposits more than seven meters (23 feet) underground, which were deposited in the first or second century CE and excavated in the 1980s, a team led by researchers from the University of York in the United Kingdom said in a statement published Friday.

In total, the study identified 16 different microplastic polymer types in contemporary and archived soil samples, the statement adds.

  • p3e7@lemm.eeEnglish
    604·
    9 months ago

    Am I reading the article wrong? The plastics come from the storage containers. Therefore the heading is quite misleading.

    • qprimed@lemmy.mlEnglish
      44·
      9 months ago

      in my reading of the the article it discusses contamination in-situ with environmenal micro-plastics, even in soil samples that were taken from the early 80s (indicating that microplastic contamination has been a problem for a while).

      in-situ preservation of artefacts are now being called in to question because microplastics can change the environment around the artefact, leading to damage.

      • 4am@lemm.eeEnglish
        21·
        9 months ago

        Yeah, I wouldn’t figure that 16 different types of polymers would be discovered if the storage container were the issue.

        Seems more likely that rainwater has been seeping down into the soil carrying the pollutants with it, and even as early as the 80s extracted items already contained a multitude of traces.

        We really fucked shit up. That means I’ve never known a world with clean water, air, or soil, and I’m middle aged already.

        Fuck do we do now?

        • Optional@lemmy.worldEnglish
          6·
          9 months ago

          Step 1: vote the republiQans out

          It’s coincidence that the first samples they found microplastics in are from the 80s, but it’s also a metaphor.

            • DragonTypeWyvern@literature.cafeEnglish
              7·
              9 months ago

              The cancer of neoliberalism metastasized in 1980 with the election of Ronald Reagan.

              Technically speaking Carter was also a neoliberal, but he was the Democratic brand that did things like put solar panels on the White House, because he wasn’t a simpering, oil industry boot licking reactionary as well.