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Potential Provenance Identification of Unidentified Human Remains Using Strontium and Oxygen Isotope Analysis
- Date Issued:
- 2024
- Abstract/Description:
- Major academic institutions in the United States house unidentified human skeletal remains in their collections as a result of unethical obtainment, poor documentation, and lack of resources. This thesis explores the possible geographic provenances associated with two skulls, A11 and A12, kept in the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Anthropology Department. This thesis utilizes strontium and oxygen isotope analysis collected from dental and enamel tissues to explore possible geographic provenance for A11 and A12. Analyzing isotopic composition of human skeletal remains is an established method to reconstruct human processes, history, events, and lifeways. Strontium (expressed by the ratio: 87Sr/86Sr) and oxygen (expressed by the ratio: δ18O) stable isotope analysis is used to determine place of origin for human remains with unknown origin. Strontium and oxygen isotopes express geographic signatures, of an individual's food and drinking water ingested during childhood which can reflect the isotope signature of the environment (soil, water, geology) from where it originates.
Title: | Potential Provenance Identification of Unidentified Human Remains Using Strontium and Oxygen Isotope Analysis. |
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Name(s): |
Colonna, Hallie, author Ellis, Meredith A. B. , Thesis advisor Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor Department of Anthropology Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters |
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Type of Resource: | text | |
Genre: | Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation | |
Date Created: | 2024 | |
Date Issued: | 2024 | |
Publisher: | Florida Atlantic University | |
Place of Publication: | Boca Raton, Fla. | |
Physical Form: | application/pdf | |
Extent: | 119 p. | |
Language(s): | English | |
Abstract/Description: | Major academic institutions in the United States house unidentified human skeletal remains in their collections as a result of unethical obtainment, poor documentation, and lack of resources. This thesis explores the possible geographic provenances associated with two skulls, A11 and A12, kept in the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Anthropology Department. This thesis utilizes strontium and oxygen isotope analysis collected from dental and enamel tissues to explore possible geographic provenance for A11 and A12. Analyzing isotopic composition of human skeletal remains is an established method to reconstruct human processes, history, events, and lifeways. Strontium (expressed by the ratio: 87Sr/86Sr) and oxygen (expressed by the ratio: δ18O) stable isotope analysis is used to determine place of origin for human remains with unknown origin. Strontium and oxygen isotopes express geographic signatures, of an individual's food and drinking water ingested during childhood which can reflect the isotope signature of the environment (soil, water, geology) from where it originates. | |
Identifier: | FA00014508 (IID) | |
Degree granted: | Thesis (MA)--Florida Atlantic University, 2024. | |
Collection: | FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection | |
Note(s): | Includes bibliography. | |
Subject(s): |
Human remains (Archaeology) Bioarchaeology Oxygen--Isotopes--Analysis trontium--Isotopes |
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Persistent Link to This Record: | http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014508 | |
Use and Reproduction: | Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder. | |
Use and Reproduction: | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ | |
Host Institution: | FAU |