Movement of Strontium in the Human Body

The geographic origins of Nasca trophy heads using strontium, oxygen, and carbon isotope data

“…The 87 Sr/ 86 Sr signature is not fractionated as it moves from the bedrock, soil, plants and animals in an ecosystem (Aberg, 1995;Blum et al, 2000), so the strontium consumed and imbibed by an individual will reflect the strontium isotope signatures in the geologic regions in which the plants, animals and water originated (see Bentley, 2006). Strontium then substitutes for calcium in hydroxyapatite in enamel and bone (Carr et al, 1962;Dolphin and Eve, 1963;Hodges et al, 1950;Kulp and Schulert, 1962). Since bone is continually remodeling, bone strontium isotope signatures reflect the place of residence during the period of bone formation before death.…”

Introducing δ88/86Sr analysis in archaeology: a demonstration of the utility of strontium isotope fractionation in paleodietary studies

“…In the body, strontium substitutes for calcium in bone and enamel hydroxyapatite (Carr et al, 1962;Comar et al, 1957;Gong et al, 1966). Therefore the 87 Sr/ 86 Sr values in an individual's teeth and bone reflect the 87 Sr/ 86 Sr values in food consumed and water imbibed.…”

Identifying locals, migrants, and captives in the Wari Heartland: A bioarchaeological and biogeochemical study of human remains from Conchopata, Peru

“…suggest that some individuals stayed in one locale and dramatically changed their diet from childhood to adulthood, this is highly unlikely because it would mean that at some time in adulthood they switched to a diet composed primarily of imported foods that were calcium rich, since strontium replaces calcium in enamel and bone hydroxyapatite (Burton et al, 1999;Carr et al, 1962;Comar et al, 1957;Dolphin and Eve, 1963;Schroeder et al, 1972). Moreover, because the bone and tooth values from the six trophy head individuals are different (i.e., they do not all show the same non-local values throughout their lifetimes), each person would have had his own unique geological zone(s) from which their calcium rich foods were Fig.…”

“…There is a long history of research into strontium in human breast milk and infants, and the radiogenic strontium isotopic composition ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) of human breast milk is not appreciably changed or fractionated as it is produced by the mother and consumed by the infant (Hodges et al, 1950;Comar et al, 1957;Carr et al, 1962;Kulp and Schulert, 1962;Rehnberg et al, 1969;Schroeder et al, 1972;Mays, 2003). As such, it may be that the infant's mother was a voluntary migrant or a captive taken to Conchopata, perhaps by Wari warriors similar to those depicted on the ceramic urns from the same room.…”