Glykou A, Eriksson G, Storå J, Schmitt M, Kooijman E, Lidén K. Intra- and inter-tooth variation in strontium isotope ratios from prehistoric seals by laser ablation multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 2018;
32:1215-1224. [PMID:
29729043 PMCID:
PMC6033018 DOI:
10.1002/rcm.8158]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Revised: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE
Strontium isotope ratios (87 Sr/86 Sr) in modern-day marine environments are considered to be homogeneous (~0.7092). However, in the Baltic Sea, the Sr ratios are controlled by mixing seawater and continental drainage from major rivers discharging into the Baltic. This pilot study explores if variations in Sr can be detected in marine mammals from archaeological sites in the Baltic Sea.
METHODS
87 Sr/86 Sr ratios were measured in tooth enamel from three seal species by laser ablation multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-MC-ICP-MS). The method enables micro-sampling of solid materials. This is the first time that the method has been applied to marine samples from archaeological collections.
RESULTS
The analyses showed inter-tooth 87 Sr/86 Sr variation suggesting that different ratios can be detected in different regions of the Baltic Sea. Furthermore, the intra-tooth variation suggests possible different geographic origin or seasonal movement of seals within different regions in the Baltic Sea through their lifetime.
CONCLUSIONS
The method was successfully applied to archaeological marine samples showing that: (1) the 87 Sr/86 Sr ratio in marine environments is not uniform, (2) 87 Sr/86 Sr differences might reflect differences in ecology and life history of different seal species, and (3) archaeological mobility studies based on 87 Sr/86 Sr ratios in humans should therefore be evaluated together with diet reconstruction.
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