Early African diaspora in colonial Campeche, Mexico: Strontium isotopic evidence

Abstract

Construction activities around Campeche's central park led to the discovery of an early colonial church and an associated burial ground, in use from the mid-16th century AD to the late 17th century. Remains of some individuals revealed dental mutilations characteristic of West Africa. Analyses of strontium isotopes of dental enamel from these individuals yielded unusually high (87)Sr/(86)Sr ratios, inconsistent with an origin in Mesoamerica, but consistent with an origin in West Africa in terrain underlain by the West Africa Craton, perhaps near the port of Elmina, a principal source of slaves for the New World during the 16th century. These individuals likely represent some of the earliest representatives of the African Diaspora in the Americas.

Analyzing the genetic structure of the Tepehua in relation to other neighbouring Mesoamerican populations. A study based on allele frequencies of STR markers

“…For instance, the D21S11*28 allele, which characterizes this population, has an elevated frequency in African groups (0.271), a lower frequency in Europeans (0.162), and is almost absent in Amerindian groups (0.039). The clearest example of this increased African contribution is provided by the population of MCHI, with at least 4.5% of genes derived from African slave groups (Green et al, 2000;Price et al, 2006). This is also demonstrated by the composition of the population of Saltillo, located in the north of Mexico and relatively close to Chihuahua (MCHI).…”

Mapping multiple source effects on the strontium isotopic signatures of ecosystems from the circum‐Caribbean region

“…In addition, large amounts of data have been gathered in this region, including studies assessing the comprehensive Sr budget of ecosystems by measuring 87 Sr/ 86 Sr in rainfall, soil, the exchangeable Sr pool, bedrock and plants (Bern et al 2005, Pett-Ridge et al 2009b, Pozwa et al 2002 and work producing several hundred 87 Sr/ 86 Sr measurements of local plants and animals for archeological provenance studies (Price et al 2000, Hodell et al 2004, Wright 2005, Price et al 2006, Price 2008, Thornton 2011, Laffoon et al 2012. The combination of these bioavailable Sr isotope datasets with the natural gradient of atmospheric deposition and varied lithologies of the circumCaribbean region offers an excellent opportunity to develop and validate our multi-source mapping approach.…”

Examining the Life History of an Individual From Solcor 3, San Pedro De Atacama: Combining Bioarchaeology and Archaeological Chemistry

“…Although geologists initially used the natural variation of strontium isotopes in the environment to date igneous and sedimentary rocks, researchers in archaeology, biology, geology and paleontology have begun to utilize the fact that different geologic environments have different strontium isotope ratios to answer a wide variety of questions, such as the identification of animal migration pat-terns (Hoppe 2004;Hoppe et al 1999;Ingram and Weber 1999;Kennedy et al 1997). However, most strontium isotope analyses in archaeology have been used to answer questions about human migration (Bentley 2006;Bentley et al 2003;Bentley et al 2002;Ezzo et al 1997;Ezzo and Price 2002;Farnum et al 2003;Grupe et al 1997;Knudson 2004;Knudson et al 2004;Montgomery et al 2003;Montgomery et al 2005;Price et al 2001;Price et al 1998;Price et al 1994;Price et al 2000;Price et al 2006;Schweissing and Grupe 2003a, b;Sealy et al 1995;Sealy et al 1991;Sillen et al 1998;Wright 2005a, b).…”