Transhumance pastoralism of Roccapelago (Modena, Italy) early‐modern individuals

Inferences from Sr isotopes of hair strands

Datos Bibliográficos

ID8317407
AutoresFederico Lugli (0000-0002-5642-2216, Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Modena Italy, autor de correspondencia), Anna Cipriani (0000-0001-8457-0147, Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Modena Italy), Valentina Tavaglione (Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Modena Italy), Mirko Traversari (0000-0002-6376-7626, Department of Cultural Heritage University of Bologna Ravenna Italy), Stefano Benazzi (0000-0003-4305-6920, Department of Cultural Heritage University of Bologna Ravenna Italy)
Año2018
Volumen167
Número3
Páginas470-483
Fecha de publicación2018-11-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0002-9483 • E-ISSN: 1096-8644
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajpa.23643
PMID30159877
OpenAlexW2889492797
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas5
Referencias citadas62

Objectives In this work, we use Sr isotopes to analyze human hair and determine short‐term movements of a contemporary human traveler and of early‐modern individuals from an archaeological site (Roccapelago, Modena, Italy, 16th–18th century). Materials and methods Analyses were performed using a Neptune MC–ICP–MS. We first set up and tested the procedure on scalp hair of a contemporary human, who spent some time between Brazil and Italy. We then analyzed the 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios of eight exceptionally well‐preserved archaeological hair specimens associated with human mummies from Roccapelago. Trace elements were analyzed by LA‐ICP‐MS on single‐hair specimens to check the preservation of the archaeological samples. Results The strontium isotope composition of modern human hair varies from 0.7087 to 0.7093. The 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios of the Roccapelago hair strands range from 0.7082 to 0.7137, with an average of 0.7093 ± 0.0031 (2σ), revealing also intra‐individual differences in isotopic composition along the length of the hair shaft. Data were compared with local archaeological rodent bones and teeth and with published isotopic values of water and outcropping rocks. Trace element abundances of archaeological and modern human hair are similarly low in terms of Rare Earth Element (REE) and metal contents, in particular after HNO 3 leaching. Discussion The variable modern human hair 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios show that high‐resolution hair sampling tracks the movements of this individual between the two continents. The Sr isotope composition of the mummy hair is consistent with sub‐annual human movements from Roccapelago to an area with different 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios. Historical sources indicate that individuals from Roccapelago travelled with their herds to Tuscany for transhumance pastoralism practices. The high radiogenic 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios (>0.71) found in some of the hair are possibly consistent with the Tuscan Magmatic Province and the Tuscan Metamorphic Complex isotope signature. To our knowledge, this is the first study in an archaeological context where the Sr isotope evidence of mobility is corroborated by historical documents

Archaeology · Geochemistry · Geography · Isotope · Isotopes of strontium · Mineralogy · Strontium · Trace element · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Chemistry · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Geology · Paleopathology and ancient diseases