Extensive pedigrees reveal the social organization of a Neolithic community.

Social anthropology and ethnographic studies have described kinship systems and networks of contact and exchange in extant populations1-4. However, for prehistoric societies, these systems can be studied only indirectly from biological and cultural remains. Stable isotope data, sex and age at death can provide insights into the demographic structure of a burial community and identify local versus non-local childhood signatures, archaeogenetic data can reconstruct the biological relationships between individuals, which enables the reconstruction of pedigrees, and combined evidence informs on kinship practices and residence patterns in prehistoric societies. Here we report ancient DNA, strontium isotope and contextual data from more than 100 individuals from the site Gurgy 'les Noisats' (France), dated to the western European Neolithic around 4850-4500 BC. We find that this burial community was genetically connected by two main pedigrees, spanning seven generations, that were patrilocal and patrilineal, with evidence for female exogamy and exchange with genetically close neighbouring groups. The microdemographic structure of individuals linked and unlinked to the pedigrees reveals additional information about the social structure, living conditions and site occupation. The absence of half-siblings and the high number of adult full siblings suggest that there were stable health conditions and a supportive social network, facilitating high fertility and low mortality5. Age-structure differences and strontium isotope results by generation indicate that the site was used for just a few decades, providing new insights into shifting sedentary farming practices during the European Neolithic.

Reconstructing Middle and Upper Paleolithic human mobility in Portuguese Estremadura through laser ablation strontium isotope analysis.

Understanding mobility and landscape use is important in reconstructing subsistence behavior, range, and group size, and it may contribute to our understanding of phenomena such as the dynamics of biological and cultural interactions between distinct populations of Upper Pleistocene humans. However, studies using traditional strontium isotope analysis are generally limited to identifying locations of childhood residence or nonlocal individuals and lack the sampling resolution to detect movement over short timescales. Here, using an optimized methodology, we present highly spatially resolved 87Sr/86Sr measurements made by laser ablation multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry along the growth axis of the enamel of two marine isotope stage 5b, Middle Paleolithic Neanderthal teeth (Gruta da Oliveira), a Tardiglacial, Late Magdalenian human tooth (Galeria da Cisterna), and associated contemporaneous fauna from the Almonda karst system, Torres Novas, Portugal. Strontium isotope mapping of the region shows extreme variation in 87Sr/86Sr, with values ranging from 0.7080 to 0.7160 over a distance of c. 50 km, allowing short-distance (and arguably short-duration) movement to be detected. We find that the early Middle Paleolithic individuals roamed across a subsistence territory of approximately 600 km2, while the Late Magdalenian individual parsimoniously fits a pattern of limited, probably seasonal movement along the right bank of the 20-km-long Almonda River valley, between mouth and spring, exploiting a smaller territory of approximately 300 km2. We argue that the differences in territory size are due to an increase in population density during the Late Upper Paleolithic.

A reanalysis of strontium isotope ratios as indicators of dispersal in South African hominins.

Dispersal patterns in primates have major implications for behavior and sociality but are difficult to reconstruct for fossil species. This study applies novel strontium isotope methodologies that have reliably predicted philopatry and dispersal patterns in chimpanzees and other modern primates to previously published strontium isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) of two South African hominins, Australopithecus africanus and Australopithecus robustus. In this study, the difference or 'offset' was calculated between the 87Sr/86Sr of each fossil tooth compared to local bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr as defined by cluster analysis of modern plant isotope ratios. Large teeth (presumably belonging to males) have low offsets from local 87Sr/86Sr proxies, while small teeth (presumably from females) have greater offsets from local 87Sr/86Sr proxies. This supports previous conclusions of male philopatry and female dispersal in both A. africanus and A. robustus. Furthermore, A. robustus shows more extreme differences between presumed males and females compared to A. africanus. This is analogous to differences seen in modern olive baboons compared to chimpanzees and suggests that A. africanus may have had a larger home range than A. robustus. Neither hominin species has 87Sr/86Sr consistent with riparian habitat preferences despite the demonstrated presence of riparian habitats in South Africa at the time.

Tracing the geographical origin of bottled water collected in South Korea via isotopic and elemental analyses.

RATIONALE: The production of bottled water requires a forensic discriminant technique that enables the identification of the brands or accidents caused by intended contaminants. The bottled water poisoning crimes have drawn much attention, and such crimes may recur in the future. The water is colorless and odorless, and thus it is difficult to detect contaminated water through visual observation. Thus, bottled water can be easily exploited for poisoning, and a method for tracing their origin is currently required. METHODS: In this study, a total of 27 brands of bottled water samples were analyzed to determine stable oxygen isotopes, strontium isotopes, major and trace elements. The geographical origin of the water was traced based on the climatic and geographical characteristics of the location from where water was sourced, which was assumed to be reflected in the bottled water. Furthermore, we investigated whether this method can be applied to identify bottled water products. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that the characteristics of the bottled water, including the oxygen stable isotope ratios, reflect the latitude and altitude of bottled water source in South Korea, from the high-latitude region to the coastal regions. In addition, the results indicated that excellent discrimination was achieved using strontium isotopes to identify source areas with different types of bedrock, complex underlying lithologies, and ocean areas in South Korea. A statistical method based on discriminant analysis was applied to measure trace elements, and the results effectively reflected the characteristics of water-rock interactions (cross-validated classification probability: ≥92%). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the geographical characteristics of the source area are well reflected in commercial bottled water in South Korea. The proposed analytical methods can be utilized to trace the geographical origin of different bottled water samples and identify bottled water products used in poisoning crimes.

Ostrich eggshell bead strontium isotopes reveal persistent macroscale social networking across late Quaternary southern Africa.

Hunter-gatherer exchange networks dampen subsistence and reproductive risks by building relationships of mutual support outside local groups that are underwritten by symbolic gift exchange. Hxaro, the system of delayed reciprocity between Ju/'hoãn individuals in southern Africa's Kalahari Desert, is the best-known such example and the basis for most analogies and models of hunter-gatherer exchange in prehistory. However, its antiquity, drivers, and development remain unclear, as they do for long-distance exchanges among African foragers more broadly. Here we show through strontium isotope analyses of ostrich eggshell beads from highland Lesotho, and associated strontium isoscape development, that such practices stretch back into the late Middle Stone Age. We argue that these exchange items originated beyond the macroband from groups occupying the more water-stressed subcontinental interior. Tracking the emergence and persistence of macroscale, transbiome social networks helps illuminate the evolution of social strategies needed to thrive in stochastic environments, strategies that in our case study show persistence over more than 33,000 y.

Strontium isotope ratios in kidney stones reveal the environmental implications for humans in Beijing, China.

Kidney stones are a common disease that threatens human health on a global scale and are closely related to the contemporary environment. The strontium isotope ratio (87Sr/86Sr) has been widely used to trace the migration of ancient humans through bones and teeth, which recorded their bioavailable Sr from the environment. However, no 87Sr/86Sr data for kidney stones have been reported. Therefore, this study explored the Sr content of kidney stones and reported their 87Sr/86Sr data for the first time to reflect the environmental implications for humans; 66 calcium oxalate kidney stones collected in Beijing were measured for calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and strontium (Sr) content to explore Sr distribution behavior in kidney stones, and 17 samples were tested for strontium isotopes. Ca and Mg had a joint effect on the Sr content of kidney stones, with magnesium having a stronger effect, whereas 87Sr/86Sr values were unaffected by these elements. The 87Sr/86Sr values of kidney stones ranged from 0.709662 to 0.710990, within the range of environmental soil and water in Beijing. Drinking water and surface soils (representing food sources) mainly contributed to the bioavailable Sr of kidney stones, while sea spray and dust storm did not. This study is the first to report 87Sr/86Sr values for kidney stones. Evidence of Sr isotope ratios in kidney stones reveals environmental implications for humans and bioavailable Sr sources, demonstrating a great potential of Sr isotope ratios at the intersection of life and environmental sciences.

Assessing the preservation of biogenic strontium isotope ratios (87 Sr/86 Sr) in the pars petrosa ossis temporalis of unburnt human skeletal remains: A case study from Saba.

RATIONALE: Strontium isotope (87 Sr/86 Sr) analysis of skeletal remains has become a powerful tool in archaeological studies of human migration and mobility. Owing to its resistance to post-mortem alteration, dental enamel is the preferred sampling material used for 87 Sr/86 Sr analysis in bioarchaeological provenance research, although recent studies have demonstrated that cremated bone is also generally resistant to diagenesis. This paper presents the results of a pilot study exploring the potential of unburnt petrous bone (pars petrosa) as a reservoir of biogenic (diagenetically unaltered) strontium, as the otic capsule or bony labyrinth within the petrous bone is extremely dense and is thought to be unable to remodel after early childhood, potentially providing an alternative for dental enamel. METHODS: From an individual from a colonial-era (18th century) site on the island of Saba in the Caribbean for whom previous enamel 87 Sr/86 Sr results had indicated non-local origins, multiple locations (n = 4) on the petrous were sampled and measured for strontium isotope composition. Saba (13 km2 ) has been extensively mapped for baseline strontium isotopes (n = 50) with 87 Sr/86 Sr varying from ca 0.7065 to 0.7090, whereas enamel 87 Sr/86 Sr (n = 3) ranged from 0.7104 to 0.7112. RESULTS: All four petrous 87 Sr/86 Sr ratios (0.7111-0.7122) are consistently and considerably higher than the local bioavailable range, and very similar to the enamel 87 Sr/86 Sr. These results provide initial evidence that unburnt petrous bones may preserve biogenic strontium, at least in this specific burial context. CONCLUSIONS: While more research in diverse burial conditions is needed to validate this observation, if confirmed, it would have broader implications for sample selection strategies in bioarchaeological studies using the strontium isotope method.

Source tracing and chemical weathering implications of strontium in agricultural basin in Thailand during flood season: A combined hydrochemical approach and strontium isotope.

87Sr/86Sr of river water are of great significance in constraining oceanic strontium (Sr) record and terrestrial climate change due to the connection of continental weathering and the adjacent ocean. This work presents the geochemical characteristics of dissolved Sr and hydrochemistry, and estimates chemical weathering rate together with elemental Sr flux during the flood season of the Mun River, the largest tributary of Mekong River. Hydrochemistry analysis indicates the dominance of Cl- and HCO3- for major anions with the average of 34.6 and 43.0 mg/L, respectively, and Na+ and Ca2+ together dominated the cationic composition with the average of 22.9 and 10.5 mg/L, respectively. The ion concentrations during flood season were lower than that in dry season, implying tremendous river runoff due to extreme rainfall. The dissolved Sr ranges 6.1-237.5 µg/L with higher contents in the upper Mun. Sr contents in flood season are lower and less fluctuated than that in dry season, whereas the divergence between up and downstream becomes larger. 87Sr/86Sr ranges 0.7100-0.7597, slightly higher than global average. Elemental molar ratio analysis partly corroborates the inference from correlation analysis, but 87Sr/86Sr does not correlate with Na/Ca, indicating additional influence except for the weathering of evaporites and silicates. Comparing to regional wastewater and rainwater, the lower reaches exhibits superimposed impact of agricultural inputs on weathering to dissolved loads, especially in downstream with more tributary convergence. Extreme rainfall during flood season and extensive agricultural production activities may interfere in altering riverine solutes. Silicate weathering rate and CO2 consumption rate are calculated as well as the yearly 87Sr in excess to the Mekong River and finally to the Pacific Ocean with a Sr flux of 1.98 × 103 tons/year, indicating significant influence on seawater strontium isotope evolution in the long run. Together with tropical climate and high-intensity precipitation, the accelerated chemical weathering process seems inevitable. Therefore, the impact of agricultural interference in the pan-Mekong River basin needs more systematic and multi-angle research to provide a comprehensive insight on better watershed management under tropical climatic conditions.

Strontium isotope ratios related to childhood mobility: Revisiting sampling strategies of the calcined human pars petrosa ossis temporalis.

RATIONALE: Strontium isotope analysis can be applied to the calcined human otic capsule in the petrous part (pars petrosa ossis temporalis; PP) to gain information on childhood mobility in archaeological and forensic contexts. However, only a thin layer of the otic capsule, the inner cortex, demonstrates virtually no remodelling. This paper proposes an improved sampling method for the accurate sampling of the inner cortex of the otic capsule to ensure that 87 Sr/86 Sr ratios related to early childhood are obtained. METHODS: Calcined rib and diaphyseal fragments and PP from ten cremation deposits are sampled for strontium isotope analysis, whereby our improved sampling strategy is applied to sample the inner cortex of the otic capsule. This allows inter- and intraskeletal 87 Sr/86 Sr comparison within an Iron Age collection from Oss, The Netherlands. RESULTS: Forty percent (4/10) of the calcined PP that were evaluated for this study show marked differences in 87 Sr/86 Sr (0.00035-0.00065) between the inner cortex and the bone sample surrounding this layer, the external cortex that has higher remodelling rates. Differences in 87 Sr/86 Sr between various skeletal elements also aided in the identification of the minimum number of individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates the problematic nature of the external cortex and stresses the need for a precise sampling method of the correct areas of the otic capsule. This can only be obtained by cutting the calcined PP midmodiolarly to enable adequate combustion degree assessment, and the correct identification and sampling of the inner cortex of the otic capsule.

Identifying migratory pathways of Nathusius' pipistrelles (Pipistrellus nathusii) using stable hydrogen and strontium isotopes.

RATIONALE: Identifying migratory corridors of animals is essential for their effective protection, yet the exact location of such corridors is often unknown, particularly for elusive animals such as bats. While migrating along the German coastline, Nathusius' pipistrelles (Pipistrellus nathusii) are regularly killed at wind turbines. Therefore, we explored the paths taken on their annual journey. METHODS: We used isotope ratio mass spectrometry to measure stable hydrogen and strontium isotope ratios in fur keratin of 59 Nathusius' pipistrelles captured on three offshore islands. Samples were pre-treated before analysis to report exclusively stable isotope ratios of non-exchangeable hydrogen. We generated maps to predict summer origins of bats using isoscape models. RESULTS: Bats were classified as long-distance migrants, mostly originating from Eastern Europe. Hydrogen analysis suggested for some bats a possible Fennoscandian origin, yet additional information from strontium analysis excluded this possibility. Instead, our data suggest that most Nathusius' pipistrelles migrating along the German coastline were of continental European summer origin, but also highlight the possibility that Nathusius' pipistrelles of Baltorussian origin may travel offshore from Fennoscandia to Germany. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate the benefit of using complementary isotopic tracers for analysing the migratory pathways of bats and also potentially other terrestrial vertebrate species. Furthermore, data from our study suggest an offset of fur strontium isotope ratios in relation to local bedrock.

Strontium (87 Sr/86 Sr) isotope analysis of the Namu skeletal assemblage: A study of past human migration on Taumako, a Polynesian Outlier in the eastern Solomon Islands.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess if inter-island mobility can be identified during the Namu period (ca. 1,510-1800 AD) using 87 Sr/86 Sr analysis of dental enamel for individuals from the Namu burial ground on Taumako Island in the eastern Solomon Island Chain. Historic evidence from this region suggests that females migrated between the Duff, Reef, and Santa Cruz islands for marriage purposes. We hypothesize that observable trends in migrational (87 Sr/86 Sr) and dietary (δ13 C and δ15 N) isotopes can reveal the relationship between demographic factors, social status, diet, and female mobility on Taumako. METHODS: This research analyzes enamel 87 Sr/86 Sr for 58 individuals in the Namu skeletal sample. The 87 Sr/86 Sr results were compared with published dietary isotope data (bone collagen and dentin δ13 C and δ15 N values) and type/number of grave goods to assess whether trends within the data may be related to sex, age, or burial wealth. RESULTS: The results show that females display significantly higher 87 Sr/86 Sr values compared to males. One young adult female displayed a 87 Sr/86 Sr value that was +2SD outside the mean for the sampled individuals. A linear mixed-effects model and principle components analysis of 87 Sr/86 Sr, δ13 C, and δ15 N values suggest that wealth, sex, and age-cohort membership have an observable influence on the isotopic variation for the Taumako population. CONCLUSION: We suggest that during the Namu period, Taumako was patrilocal and that some females migrated there from the nearby Santa Cruz and Reef islands. One female immigrated to Taumako from a geologically distinct region outside of the Duff, Reef, and Santa Cruz Island groups.

Ancestry, health, and lived experiences of enslaved Africans in 18th century Charleston: An osteobiographical analysis.

OBJECTIVES: In 2013, the burials of 36 individuals of putative African ancestry were discovered during renovation of the Gaillard Center in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. The Charleston community facilitated a bioarchaeological and mitogenomic study to gain insights into the lives of these unknown persons, referred to as the Anson Street Ancestors, including their ancestry, health, and lived experiences in the 18th century. METHODS: Metric and morphological assessments of skeletal and dental characteristics were recorded, and enamel and cortical bone strontium stable isotope values generated. Whole mitochondrial genomes were sequenced and analyzed. RESULTS: Osteological analysis identified adults, both females and males, and subadults at the site, and estimated African ancestry for most individuals. Skeletal trauma and pathology were infrequent, but many individuals exhibited dental decay and abscesses. Strontium isotope data suggested these individuals mostly originated in Charleston or sub-Saharan Africa, with many being long-term residents of Charleston. Nearly all had mitochondrial lineages belonging to African haplogroups (L0-L3, H1cb1a), with two individuals sharing the same L3e2a haplotype, while one had a Native American A2 mtDNA. DISCUSSION: This study generated detailed osteobiographies of the Anson Street Ancestors, who were likely of enslaved status. Our results indicate that the Ancestors have diverse maternal African ancestries and are largely unrelated, with most being born locally. These details reveal the demographic impact of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Our analysis further illuminates the lived experiences of individuals buried at Anson Street, and expands our understanding of 18th century African history in Charleston.

Specificity and Origin of the Stability of the Sr Isotopic Ratio in Champagne Wines.

The 87Sr/86Sr ratio of 39 Champagnes from six different brands, originating from the whole "Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée" (AOC) Champagne was analyzed to establish a possible relation with the geographical origin. Musts (i.e., grape juice) and base wines were also analyzed to study the evolution of the Sr isotopic ratio during the elaboration process of sparkling wine. The results demonstrate that there is a very homogeneous Sr isotopic ratio (87Sr/86Sr = 0.70812, n = 37) and a narrow span of variability (2σ = 0.00007, n = 37). Moreover, the Sr concentrations in Champagnes have also low variability, which can be in part explained by the homogeneity of the bedrock in the AOC Champagne. Measurements of the 87Sr/86Sr ratio from musts and base wines show that blending during Champagne production plays a major role in the limited variability observed. Further, the 87Sr/86Sr of the musts were closely linked to the 87Sr/86Sr ratio of the vineyard soil. It appears that the 87Sr/86Sr of the product does not change during the elaboration process, but its variability decreases throughout the process due to blending. Both the homogeneity of the soil composition in the Champagne AOC and the blending process during the wine making process with several blending steps at different stages account for the unique and stable Sr isotopic signature of the Champagne wines.

Analysing Sr isotopes in low-Sr samples such as single insects with inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry using N2 O as a reaction gas for in-line Rb separation.

RATIONALE: Strontium isotopes are valuable markers of provenance in a range of disciplines. Limited amounts of Sr in low-mass samples such as insects mean that conventional Sr isotope analysis precludes their use for geographic origins in many ecological studies or in applications such as biosecurity. Here we test the viability of using inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS) with N2 O as a reaction gas for accurately determining Sr isotopes in insects with Sr < 100 ng. METHODS: Strontium isotopes were determined in solution mode using ICP-MS/MS with 0.14 L/min N2 O as a reaction gas to convert Sr+ into SrO+ for in-line separation of 87 Sr from 87 Rb. The Sr isotope reference standards NIST SRM 987, NIST SRM 1570a and NIST SRM 1547 were used to assess accuracy and reproducibility. Ten insect species collected from the wild as a proof-of-principle application were analysed for Sr concentration and Sr isotopes. RESULTS: Using ICP-MS/MS we show for the first time that internal mass bias correction of 87 Sr16 O/86 Sr16 O based on 88 Sr16 O/86 Sr16 O works to give for NIST SRM 987 a 87 Sr/86 Sr ratio of 0.7101 ± 0.012 (RSD = 0.17%) and for NIST SRM 1570a a 87 Sr/86 Sr ratio of 0.7100 ± 0.009 (RSD = 0.12%), which are within error of the accepted values. The first 87 Sr/86 Sr ratio of NIST SRM 1547 is 0.7596 ± 0.0014. Strontium analyses were run on 0.8 mL of 0.25-0.5 ppb Sr, which equates to 2-4 ng of Sr. Strontium isotope analysis with a precision of >99.8% can be achieved with in-line separation of 87 Sr from 87 Rb at least up to solutions with 25 ppb Rb. CONCLUSIONS: A minimum of 5 mg of insect tissue is required for Sr isotope analysis. This new ICP-MS/MS method enables Sr isotope analysis in single insects, allowing population-scale studies to be feasible and making possible applications with time-critical uses such as biosecurity.

Pastoralism and Emergent Complex Settlement in the Middle Bronze Age, Azerbaijan: isotopic analyses of mobility strategies in transformation.

OBJECTIVES: This article explores the scale and seasonal patterns of mobility at the complex settlement site of Qizqala during the Middle Bronze Age (2400-1,500 BCE). By integrating human bone, teeth, and environmental samples this research tests the hypothesis of the persistent importance of community-wide seasonal pastoral transhumance during the early formation of complex settlement systems of the South Caucasus. METHODS: This research applies stable oxygen and radiogenic strontium isotope analyses on incremental samples of human tooth enamel, bulk tooth enamel, and bone to resolve mobility patterns. Sequential and bulk sampling techniques elucidate seasonal and residential mobility behaviors. Extensive environmental isotope samples of plant and water were collected through regional survey and establish local and regional isotopic baselines, which are compared to human isotope analysis results. RESULTS: Qizqala individuals exhibit low isotopic variability compared to regional contemporaries. 87 Sr/86 Sr ratios from human remains indicate seasonal and residential isotopic variability within the baseline ranges of local landscapes. δ18 O values display erratic patterns, but correspond to seasonal variability with fluctuations between highland and lowland altitudinal zone baseline values. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that isotopic analysis of multiple elements and sequential enamel samples offers finer resolution on the complexities of human mobility strategies and elucidate the daily lives of often overlooked mobile populations. Higher resolution of individual mobility reveals shared routine behaviors that underscore the importance of diverse social collaborations in forming complex polities in the South Caucasus.

Biological diversity in an Islamic archaeological population: A radiogenic strontium isotope and craniometric analysis of affinity in Ottoman Romania.

OBJECTIVES: Written accounts, as well as a previous craniometric study, indicate that migrations of non-Europeans and conversions of Europeans to Islam define Ottoman communities in Early Modern Europe. What is less clear are the roles of migration and admixture in generating intra-communal variation. This study combines craniometric with strontium isotope data to compare the cranial affinities of locally born and immigrant individuals. We predict that locally born individuals are more likely than non-locals to show evidence of admixture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Radiogenic strontium isotope data for 21 Ottomans were compared against archaeological faunal values. Sixteen individuals with intact crania were also measured and compared against two comparative source populations from Anatolia and Europe. Discriminant function analysis assigned unclassified Ottoans to either comparative group based on typicality probabilities, with potential admixture established via intermediate morphology between the two source populations. RESULTS: Strontium isotope values revealed relatively high proportions of non-locals, consistent with high mobility documented historically. The sexes differed, with more males classifying as "typically Anatolian" than females. Locals and non-locals also had different cranial affinity patterns, with most classifying either as "typically Anatolian" or "typically European." Contrary to expectation, none of the locals were identified as intermediate, suggesting admixture rates were relatively low. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with historical records, the results revealed high levels of extra-regional migration, with most individuals identifiable as either typically Anatolian or European. Moreover, locals and non-locals differed craniometrically, with no signs of admixture between Anatolian migrants and European converts in locals. This suggests intra-communal divisions were maintained.

Status, kinship, and place of burial at Early Bronze Age Bab adh-Dhra': A biogeochemical comparison of charnel house human remains.

OBJECTIVES: The Early Bronze Age (EBA; ca. 3,600-2000 BCE) of the southern Levant underwent considerable transformation as agro-pastoral communities began to utilize their land more intensively, constructing larger, fortified towns prior to site abandonment at the end of the third millennium. At the site of Bab adh-Dhra' in Jordan, the dead of the Early Bronze (EB) II-III (ca. 3,100-2,500 BCE) period were communally interred within charnel houses, but important disparities between these structures and their contents may be reflective of ownership and use by particular extended kin groups whose activity patterns, subsistence strategies, and even social status may have differed from one another. Subsequently, we hypothesized that differences in mobility and dietary intake may differentiate tomb groups from one another. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dental enamel from 31 individuals interred in three different Early Bronze Age charnel houses (A56, A22, A55) at Bab adh-Dhra', Jordan were analyzed for strontium, oxygen, and carbon isotope values. RESULTS: Strontium isotope ratios (range: 0.70793-0.70842) possessed medians that did not differ statistically from one another, but had ranges that exhibited significant differences in variance. Carbon isotope values ( x¯ = -13.2 ± 0.5‰, 1σ) were not significantly different. DISCUSSION: General similarities in human isotopic signatures between EB II-III charnel houses A22 and A55 suggest that their activities were likely similar to one another and agree with findings from excavated domestic spaces with little archaeological evidence for economic, social, or political differentiation. More variable strontium isotope ratios and lower carbon isotope values from A22 could reflect a greater involvement with pastoralist practices or regional trade, including the consumption of more 13 C-depleted foods, while those in A55 may have led a more sedentary lifestyle with greater involvement in cultivating orchard crops. All charnel houses contained nonlocal individuals likely originating from other Dead Sea Plain sites with no EB II-III cemeteries of their own, supporting the idea that extended kin groups throughout the region returned to Bab adh-Dhra' to bury their dead.

Sr isotope composition of Golden Delicious apples in Northern Italy reflects the soil 87 Sr/86 Sr ratio of the cultivation area.

BACKGROUND: Apples have a leading role in the Italian fruit sector, and high-quality apples, including the Golden Delicious variety, are cultivated mainly in the Northern mountain districts. In the present study, Golden Delicious apples from PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) and PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) cultivation districts were characterized according to their Sr isotope composition and compared with apples from other Northern Italian districts. RESULTS: Apples collected in two consecutive years (2017 and 2018) confirmed the low annual variability of the 87 Sr/86 Sr ratio. The isotope ratio of apples was highly correlated with that of the soil extracts of the respective orchards. Statistical differences were highlighted between cultivation districts. However, because similar geological features characterized some areas, their ratios overlapped and a complete separation of the districts was not possible. CONCLUSION: The 87 Sr/86 Sr ratio is an excellent marker for studies of food traceability because it retains the information about the place of origin. However, its strength is limited when comparing products from cultivation areas sharing similar geological features. In the perspective of geographical traceability, a multichemical characterization can overcome the limits of single-parameter approach. © 2020 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

The provenance of deep groundwater and its relation to arsenic distribution in the northwestern Hetao Basin, Inner Mongolia.

High-arsenic (As) groundwater has been widely found throughout the world. The source of groundwater would determine spatial distribution of groundwater As. In order to trace the source of high-As deep groundwater (DGW, depths > 50 m), groundwater, sediments, and local bedrock samples were taken to investigate chemical and isotopic compositions in the Hetao Basin, China. Results showed that 87Sr/86Sr in DGW gradually decreased with the increase in As concentrations along the approximate flow path. In recharge-oxic zone (Zone I), DGW was mainly recharged by fissure water, influenced mostly by weathering of phyllite bedrock and meta-basalt. In groundwater flow-moderate reducing zone (Zone II), DGW was mainly related to incongruent dissolution of feldspar. However, in groundwater flow-reducing zone (Zone III), DGW was partly recharged from shallow groundwater (SGW) with depths < 50 m. The mixing contributions of SGW to DGW in Zone III mostly exceeded 80% during groundwater irrigation season. In Zone I, DGW As concentrations were mostly lower than 50 µg/L due to oxic conditions. In Zone II, the weakly alkaline pH and the decreasing Ca/Na resulting from incongruent dissolution of feldspar caused As desorption, which was the major contribution to As mobilization (As mostly > 200 µg/L). In Zone III, the recharge of SGW introduced labile organic matter to support reduction of Fe(III) oxyhydroxides/oxides and predominantly led to As release into groundwater (As > 300 µg/L). This study has provided insights into the source of high-As DGW and the effect of SGW mixing on As mobilization.

Sr Isotope Analysis of Picogram-Level Samples by Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry Using a Highly Sensitive Silicotungstic Acid Emitter.

Thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) has shown excellent analytical precision for Sr isotopic ratio analysis, even for small masses of material (0.5-10 ng). However, because of the sensitivity limit of TIMS, it is still not possible to obtain high precision 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratios for picogram-level sample sizes (30-100 pg) due to the lack of a highly sensitive emitter. This study is the first to employ a highly sensitive silicotungstic acid emitter to measure Sr isotopes at the picogram-level using TIMS. This emitter produces a 3-fold enhancement in the ionization efficiency of Sr and not only significantly reduces the required sample size but also has good external precision. Analyses of the NIST 987 standard yield an external reproducibility (2 RSD, n = 8) better than ±0.013% even for 30 pg of Sr. It is possible to yield an internal precision (2 RSE) of ±0.003% for 100 pg of sample using the default 1011 Ohm feedback resistors. This method was verified by using a suite of silicate reference materials. Replicate digestions and analyses ( n = 8) of the basalt standard BCR-2 (87Sr/86Sr = 0.704998 ± 0.000028, 2 SD) at the 326 ± 30 pg level demonstrates that good external reproducibility is reached on ultratrace level silicate samples. This method has a wide variety of potential applications for samples containing ultralow amounts of Sr in geoscience and archeological studies, such as single grains of mica, sphalerite, and pyrite, single mantle melt inclusions, precious extra-terrestrial materials, and human hair to name just a few.