Georeferencing a Cold Case Victim With Lead, Strontium, Carbon, and Oxygen Isotopes

Kamenov, George D.; Kimmerle, Erin H.; Curtis, Jason H.; Norris, D. K.

doi:10.1111/napa.12048

Cited by 23 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…As discussed in the introduction section, in all of the published four multi‐isotope case studies , the authors suggested a nonlocal origin for the victims. Based on these works, we can rule out “local” origin of human remains if the isotopic signal in the decedent is distinct from the expected isotopic range for the local population.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Carbon (C), oxygen (O), strontium (Sr), and lead (Pb) isotopic data obtained from human skeletal remains can be used as a tool for reconstructing human origins, migration, and diet in prehistoric and historic populations . Similarly, multi‐isotopic analysis of contemporary humans can provide information about the birthplace, geographical mobility, and diet of unidentified human remains . In four recent contemporary case studies , the multi‐isotope data showed that the victims were foreigners to the region where the remains were found.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similarly, multi‐isotopic analysis of contemporary humans can provide information about the birthplace, geographical mobility, and diet of unidentified human remains . In four recent contemporary case studies , the multi‐isotope data showed that the victims were foreigners to the region where the remains were found. Pye concluded that a male child victim found in the UK was a foreigner, possibly from Africa.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Pye concluded that a male child victim found in the UK was a foreigner, possibly from Africa. Kamenov et al suggested that a female victim found in Florida was most likely a foreigner from Europe that arrived within a year of her death in the USA. The multi‐isotope investigations into homicide victims found in Germany and the Netherlands concluded that the decedents were most likely from Eastern Europe.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Using Carbon, Oxygen, Strontium, and Lead Isotopes in Modern Human Teeth for Forensic Investigations: A Critical Overview Based on Data from Bulgaria

Kamenov

Curtis

2017

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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Isotopic data obtained from human remains can provide information about an individual's origin, migration, and diet. We evaluate the usefulness of carbon, oxygen, strontium, and lead isotopes for forensic investigations by comparing data from Bulgarian teeth with data from other regions. Geo-referencing based on oxygen or strontium isotopes can be misleading due to overlap with other countries in Europe and other continents. Carbon and lead isotopes, in combination with oxygen and strontium isotopes, provide the most useful information for identification of local vs foreigner status. In particular, high-precision Pb isotopes show a distinct "Bulgarian" range; however, it is possible that individuals from other countries in Eastern Europe and/or central to western Asia could have overlapping isotopic values. Additional high-precision multi-isotope data from modern humans from different regions in the world are required to transition from speculative to more quantitative estimation of a geographical place of origin for unidentified human remains.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

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confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Using Carbon, Oxygen, Strontium, and Lead Isotopes in Modern Human Teeth for Forensic Investigations: A Critical Overview Based on Data from Bulgaria

Kamenov

Curtis

2017

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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“…Numerous studies have observed relationships between the 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratio of hair and possible exogenous sources of Sr in the environment (e.g., 5,11,47,50,51,54,63 ). Recently, a significant relationship between the 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios of hair and tap water was observed within a single city that had municipal water with several distinct ratios.…”

Section: Relationships Between the Sr-isotope Ratios Of Hair And Tamentioning

confidence: 99%

Strontium isotope ratios of human hair from the United States: Patterns and aberrations

Tipple

Valenzuela

Chau

et al. 2019

Rapid Comm Mass Spectrometry

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Rationale Strontium isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) of hair may be a valuable tool to estimate human provenance. However, the systematics and mechanisms controlling spatial variation in 87Sr/86Sr of modern human hair remain unclear. Here, we measure 87Sr/86Sr of hair specimens from across the USA to assess the presence of geospatial relationships. Methods Ninety‐eight human hair specimens were collected from salon/barbershop floors in 48 municipalities throughout the conterminous USA. [Sr] and 87Sr/86Sr ratios were measured from hair using quadrupole and multi‐collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometers, respectively. The [Sr] and 87Sr/86Sr ratios of hair were compared with the measured [Sr] and 87Sr/86Sr ratios of tap waters from the collection locations. In addition, the 87Sr/86Sr ratio of hair was compared with the modeled ratios of bedrock and surface waters. Results Hair color was independent of the 87Sr/86Sr ratio, but related to [Sr]. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios of hair and leachate were not statistically different and were positively correlated; however, in several hair‐leachate pairs, the ratios were conspicuously different. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios of both hair and leachate were linearly correlated with tap water. The 87Sr/86Sr ratio of hair was also significantly correlated with the modeled ratio of bedrock and surface waters, although the 87Sr/86Sr ratio of hair was most strongly correlated with the measured ratio of tap water. Conclusions The 87Sr/86Sr ratio of hair is related to the ratio of tap water, which varied geographically. The ratio of hair provided geographic information about an individual's recent residence. Differences in the 87Sr/86Sr ratios of hair and hair leachate may be concomitant with travel and could potentially be used as a screening tool to identify recent movements.

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Forensic applications of isotope landscapes (“isoscapes”)

Chesson

Tipple

Ehleringer

et al. 2017

Forensic Anthropology

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Georeferencing a Cold Case Victim With Lead, Strontium, Carbon, and Oxygen Isotopes

Abstract: Two men walking across a bridge along highway I-75 found a young woman's body floating

Cited by 23 publications

References 10 publications

Using Carbon, Oxygen, Strontium, and Lead Isotopes in Modern Human Teeth for Forensic Investigations: A Critical Overview Based on Data from Bulgaria

Using Carbon, Oxygen, Strontium, and Lead Isotopes in Modern Human Teeth for Forensic Investigations: A Critical Overview Based on Data from Bulgaria

Strontium isotope ratios of human hair from the United States: Patterns and aberrations

Forensic applications of isotope landscapes (“isoscapes”)

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