Mobility histories of 7th-9th century AD people buried at early medieval Bamburgh, Northumberland, England.

Early Medieval England is described historically as a time when people migrated from the Continent to English shores. This study tests the hypothesis that those buried in the Bowl Hole cemetery, Bamburgh, Northumberland were nonlocally born, because of its royal status. Ninety-one male and female adult, and nonadult, skeletons were studied. Isotope ratios of strontium ((87) Sr/(86) Sr) and oxygen (δ(18) O) were generated for 78 individuals (28 females, 27 males, five "adults," 18 nonadults). The mean Sr value for human enamel was 0.71044, standard deviation (sd) 0.001, and the mean O (δw) value is -5.9‰, sd 1.6‰. Additionally, animal tooth enamel (mean Sr value 0.710587, sd 0.001; mean O value -6.5‰, sd 1.5‰), local soil (mean Sr value 0.709184, sd 0.0006), snail shells (mean Sr value 0.708888, sd 0.0001), and soil samples from a 5 km transect heading inland (mean Sr value 0.709121, sd 0.0003), were analyzed for an indication of the isotopic composition of bioavailable Sr in the modern environment and to assess the impact of sea-spray; water samples from a well, local rivers, and standing water were analyzed for local δ(18) O values (mean O value -6.4‰, relative to VSMOW, sd 2.8‰). Over 50% of those buried at Bamburgh were nonlocal. All ages and both sexes produced "nonlocal" signatures; some suggested childhood origins in Scandinavia, the southern Mediterranean or North Africa. Stature and other indicators of health status indicated differences in quality of life between local and migrant groups. These differences did not extend to burial practices.

Heat shock treatment releases Penicillium phosphoglycopeptide.

Filtrates of heat (54 degrees) treated day-5 Penicillium fellutanum cultures contained 70 mg of peptidophosphogalactomannan-II; an unheated control contained 30 mg. The polymer contained up to 60 phosphodiesters, and 5-O-beta-D-galactofuranosyl, mannopyranosyl, amino acyl and 2-aminoethanol residues. Its 13C NMR spectrum was nearly identical with that of the control polymer. The major 31P NMR signal was phosphocholine phosphodiester at delta 0.22 ppm: significant phosphodiester signals occurred at delta 1.15, 1.33 and 1.47. Dilute mineral acid released galactofuranosyl residues from the mannan. Signals at delta 1.15-1.47 ppm were associated with molecules of mass less than 3500 and contained galactose, 2-aminoethanol and peptide(s). After this acid treatment, signals at delta 1.0-0.22 remained associated with the mannan. Heat released up to 4-fold more of peptidophosphogalactomannan-III compared with the untreated control; carbohydrate and phosphate content, per mg polymer, were reduced by 4- and 2-fold, respectively. A galactofuranosyl-, phosphoryl- and amino acyl-containing polymer of Mr greater than 14,000 was solubilized by alkali treatment of P. fellutanum cell walls.