The IRHUM (Isotopic Reconstruction of Human Migration) database – bioavailable strontium isotope ratios for geochemical fingerprinting in France

Abstract

Abstract. Strontium isotope ratios (87 Sr / 86 Sr) are a key geochemical tracer used in a wide range of fields including archaeology, ecology, food and forensic sciences. These applications are based on the principle that the Sr isotopic ratios of natural materials reflect the sources of strontium available during their formation. A major constraint for current studies is the lack of robust reference maps to evaluate the source of strontium isotope ratios measured in the samples. Here we provide a new data set of bioavailable Sr isotope ratios for the major geologic units of France, based on plant and soil samples (Pangaea data repository doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.819142). The IRHUM (Isotopic Reconstruction of Human Migration) database is a web platform to access, explore and map our data set. The database provides the spatial context and metadata for each sample, allowing the user to evaluate the suitability of the sample for their specific study. In addition, it allows users to upload and share their own data sets and data products, which will enhance collaboration across the different research fields. This article describes the sampling and analytical methods used to generate the data set and how to use and access the data set through the IRHUM database. Any interpretation of the isotope data set is outside the scope of this publication.

Beyond isolation: understanding past human-population variability in the Dutch town of Oldenzaal through the origin of its inhabitants and its infrastructural connections

“…Oldenzaal's history can be traced back to the Early Middle Ages (AD 450-1050), with the oldest archaeological evidence (radiocarbon data of inhumed individuals) dating back to the AD seventh-eighth centuries (Oude Nijhuis 2007;Weustink 1962;Williams 2016). The first written evidence for the existence of Oldenzaal is found in a late ninth-century register of the properties belonging to the Benedictine Prüm Abbey in Germany (the Prümer Urbar).…”

“…Historical documents pertaining to Oldenzaal mention circa 1000 inhabitants in AD 1400 and an increase of the population up to circa 1600 inhabitants in AD 1670 (Lourens and Lucassen 1997). The cemetery of St. Plechelm has been used for the interment of the deceased from Oldenzaal and its surrounding 'commons' (farmers' communities) for at least 1000 years, with the possible first burial dating to the period between AD 616 and 809 (Williams 2016). Based on seventeenth-century written documents, each common was responsible for the maintenance of a specific part of the cemetery wall (Goorhuis 2009).…”

“…Baseline strontium isotope values are established for several countries in Europe (e.g. Evans et al 2009Evans et al , 2010Frei and Frei 2011;Willmes et al 2014), and are subject to constant (methodological) improvement (Laffoon et al 2017). Moreover, strontium passes from bedrock to the soil to bioavailable solutions to our skeleton without measurable isotopic fractionation (see Bentley 2006) (Chenery et al 2012;Pollard et al 2011;Wright and Schwarcz 1998).…”

“…Cassidy et al 2016;Morozova et al 2016), new and detailed multidisciplinary investigations of prehistoric and historic population dynamics at a previously unobtainable resolution have become possible based on (1) significant developments in ancient genomics, (2) the application of multiple isotopic systems such as Sr-Pb-H-O and (3) the generation of isoscape maps (e.g. Bataille et al 2012;Bowen 2010;Evans et al 2010;Kootker et al 2016b;Willmes et al 2014). To date, however, studies combining significant amounts of human DNA and isotopic data with the aim to infer information about the spatial and temporal variations in ancient population compositions (i.e.…”

“…Bioarchaeological investigations were carried out on 200 individuals, focusing on retrieving osteoarchaeological, DNA and Sr-O-C-N isotope data. This has resulted in one of the largest bioarchaeological datasets of this type presently assembled from a single population in Europe (Altena et al 2016;Williams 2016). Bioarchaeologically, the present study focuses on coupled strontium and oxygen isotope analyses of dental enamel samples from this population.…”