Chemical forensic analysis of medicinal tablets discovered during excavations of an ancient burial

This article presents the results of a chemical forensic analysis of medicinal tablets discovered during the archaeological excavation of an ancient burial site in the Rostov region. The aim of the study was to determine the chemical composition of the tablets using a comprehensive set of analytical methods, including high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-TOF-MS), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). An additional objective was to develop a methodological framework for the forensic chemical examination of similar archaeological specimens. Three types of tablets were analyzed. The study outlines sample preparation protocols for each method, analytical conditions, and the results obtained. Morphine, papaverine, and noscapine - alkaloids of the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum and related species) were identified in all examined samples, along with nicotine. Furthermore, the molecular and elemental composition of one tablet was found to correspond to lead oxychloride (mendipite), a naturally occurring mineral. This investigation represents a unique contribution to forensic medical science and archaeology, as no comparable studies have been previously conducted.