Bioavailable Sr and Pb isotope ratios of archaeological cattle bone from coastal India

Abstract

We present the first measurement of bioavailable strontium ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) and lead ( 206 Pb/ 204 Pb, 207 Pb/ 204 Pb, and 208 Pb/ 204 Pb) isotope ratios from five cattle bones and one soil sample from Erenda, a chalcolithic site in coastal east India. Bioavailable 87 Sr/ 86 Sr of bones differ from that of the soil. A similar Pb isotope ratio of bones to the soil indicates an insignificant diagenesis and local origin of the cattle. Our result suggests a potential influence of marine Sr in modifying the bioavailable 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratio, although the current coastline is 30 km from the site. The finding has implications in archaeological, geological, environmental and ecological research.