Fig. 2.

Spatial element concentration profiles of Zn, Fe, Mn, Al, Mg, and REE in caprine teeth for a fossil (Capricornis sp., Left) and a modern (H. jemlahicus, Right) specimen. The Fe, Mn, Al, and REE (calculated as the sum of all measured REE concentrations) were selected as tracers for diagenetic alteration because of their relative abundance in soil matter, as well as their tendency to be enriched postmortem in fossil bioapatite. Thus, they most likely trace postmortem taphonomic alterations and element uptake from soil pore water. Note that in both photomicrographs the tracks of laser ablation line scans are visible.