Using strontium isotopes to study site accumulation processes

Strontium isotopes facilitate the study of human paleogeography and have widened the scope of archaeological enquiries on mobility. We present an approach based on strontium isotopes (87Sr/86Sr) to study the mobility of hunter–gatherer societies from northwestern Patagonia (Neuquén, Argentina). The analysis is developed on the basis of a macro‐regional geological framework that guides the sampling and interpretation of results. We also present results for fauna to begin building a landscape of bioavailable strontium to be utilized in the interpretation of results from human samples. These first results conform to general expectations and show the most radiogenic 87Sr/86Sr values for the oldest geological provinces, while low values are recorded for recent substrates. Additionally, we provide results for human samples from archaeological sites spanning the last 4000 years, a period during which a number of important socio‐demographic changes occurred. The results in human samples indicate overall isotopic fidelity to the values recorded in the local geology, suggesting a relatively restricted spatial scale of mobility during the late Holocene. This discussion is situated in a biogeographic research framework assessing topographic variation and landscape seasonality, and contributes toward understanding the movements of people, flow of material objects, and circulation of information in the Patagonian Andes.

show abstract

Scale of human mobility in northwestern Patagonia: An approach based on regional geology and strontium isotopes in human remains

Fernández

Gordón

Roux

et al. 2021

Geoarchaeology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.

Contact Info

customersupport@researchsolutions.com

10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614

Henderson, NV 89052, USA

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Blog Terms and Conditions API Terms Privacy Policy Contact Cookie Preferences Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

Made with 💙 for researchers

Part of the Research Solutions Family.

Using strontium isotopes to study site accumulation processes

Cited by 1 publication

References 0 publications

Scale of human mobility in northwestern Patagonia: An approach based on regional geology and strontium isotopes in human remains

Scale of human mobility in northwestern Patagonia: An approach based on regional geology and strontium isotopes in human remains

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About