Deposition of Strontium and Calcium in Snail Shell

The Early Bronze Age necropolis of Singen (Hohentwiel), located near Lake Constance, represents a population from a period of technological transition in southwestern Germany. The site contains several graves with metal artefacts that originated in other parts of Central and Western Europe, and therefore these could be interpreted as being the graves of non-local individuals. The purpose of this study was to investigate this possibility through the application of isotopic analysis. The ratios of strontium and oxygen isotopes in human enamel reflect the geological origin of food and drinking water consumed during enamel formation in early life stages. Additionally, the ratio of sulphur isotopes from bone collagen reflects the origin of foods consumed during the last 10-20 years of life of an adult individual. We used these three isotope systems to attempt to identify local and non-local individuals at the site. We found that the isotope ratios of Sr, O and S of the humans were relatively homogeneous and generally correspond to the isotope signature of the local geology, climate and environment. We conclude that the sampled population is of local origin and does not show patterns of individual mobility, even though there is evidence for long-distance trade and exchange of the metal artefacts at this site.

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“…2010). Strontium is deposited in the shell, as it substitutes for calcium, which is the main component of snail shells (Rosenthal et al . 1965).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘There's No Place Like Home’—no Isotopic Evidence for Mobility at the Early Bronze Age Cemetery of Singen, Germany

2011

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“…Snails are additionally limited in the extent of their movement throughout their lifetime and can therefore be considered representative of local variability in bioavailable 87 Sr/ 86 Sr [83,131,132]. Sr is deposited in the snail shell, where it substitutes for its main component Ca [133]. Plant 87 Sr/ 86 Sr values reflect the 87 Sr/ 86 Sr values in the immediate local soil, as well as 87 Sr/ 86 Sr admixture introduced by rainwater and atmospheric dust [131].…”

Section: Materials and Study Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A strontium isoscape for the Conchucos region of highland Peru and its application to Andean archaeology

et al. 2021

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Strontium isotope (87Sr/86Sr) analysis of human skeletal remains is an important method in archaeology to examine past human mobility and landscape use. 87Sr/86Sr signatures of a given location are largely determined by the underlying bedrock, and these geology specific isotope signatures are incorporated into skeletal tissue through food and water, often permitting the differentiation of local and non-local individuals in past human populations. This study presents the results of a systematic survey of modern flora and fauna (n = 100) from 14 locations to map the bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr signatures of the Conchucos region, an area where the extent of geologic variability was previously unknown. We illustrate the necessity to examine the variation in 87Sr/86Sr values of the different geological formations available to human land use to document the range of possible local 87Sr/86Sr values. Within the Conchucos region we found significant variation in environmental 87Sr/86Sr values (0.7078–0.7214). The resulting isoscape represents the largest regionally specific bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr map (3,840 km2) to date for the Andes, and will serve as a baseline for future archaeological studies of human mobility in this part of the Peruvian highlands.

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“…Rucker and Valentine (1961) have related trace element composition of oyster shells to water temperature and salinity. Rosenthal, Nelson and Gardner ( 1965) have found that the deposition of strontium in freshwater snail shells is related almost directly to the concentration of Sr in their environment. However, Krinsley ( 1960) studied the composition of littoral gastropod shells and found no correlation between magnesium and calcite content on modern locality populations.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of Chemical Composition of Freshwater Clamshells as Indicators of Paleohydrologic Conditions

Lee¹,

Wilson²

1969

Ecology

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The feasibility of using the Ca, Mg, and Sr content of freshwater clamshells as indicators of paleohydrologic conditions has been investigated. The Sr/Ca ratio varies with the discharge of Mill Creek, Iowa. The Sr/Ca ratios of clamshells excavated from American Indian midden sites near the Big Sioux River in Plymouth County, Iowa (Kimball Site 13 PM 4), and the Phipps site (13 CK 21) located near Mill Creek in Cherokee County, Iowa, show significant changes that can be related to changes in climate in the period 900 to 1400 A. D. Based on the results of this investigation, the alkaline earth composition of freshwater clams probably can be used as an indicator of paleohydrologic conditions.

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Deposition of Strontium and Calcium in Snail Shell

Cited by 8 publications

References 12 publications

‘There's No Place Like Home’—no Isotopic Evidence for Mobility at the Early Bronze Age Cemetery of Singen, Germany

‘There's No Place Like Home’—no Isotopic Evidence for Mobility at the Early Bronze Age Cemetery of Singen, Germany

A strontium isoscape for the Conchucos region of highland Peru and its application to Andean archaeology

Use of Chemical Composition of Freshwater Clamshells as Indicators of Paleohydrologic Conditions

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