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  • A strontium isoscape of north-east Australia for human provenance and repatriation

    Author(s)
    Adams, Shaun
    Grun, Rainer
    McGahan, David
    Zhao, Jian-Xin
    Feng, Yuexing
    Nguyen, Ai
    Willmes, Malte
    Quaresimin, Michael
    Lobsey, Brett
    Collard, Mark
    Westaway, Michael C
    Griffith University Author(s)
    Grun, Rainer
    Adams, Shaun
    McGahan, David P.
    Westaway, Michael
    Year published
    2019
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    It has been estimated that up to 25% of Indigenous human remains held in Australian institutions are unprovenanced. Geochemical tracers like strontium isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) have been used globally for over 40 years to discern human provenance and provide independent data to aid in repatriation efforts. To reliably apply this technology, landscape 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratio variability must be quantified. In Australia, only a few studies have used this technique and they are lacking in detail. Here, we present Australia's first regional strontium isotope ratio variability study. We measured strontium isotope ratios in soil, ...
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    It has been estimated that up to 25% of Indigenous human remains held in Australian institutions are unprovenanced. Geochemical tracers like strontium isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) have been used globally for over 40 years to discern human provenance and provide independent data to aid in repatriation efforts. To reliably apply this technology, landscape 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratio variability must be quantified. In Australia, only a few studies have used this technique and they are lacking in detail. Here, we present Australia's first regional strontium isotope ratio variability study. We measured strontium isotope ratios in soil, plant, water, and faunal material throughout Cape York, Queensland, the most northerly point of mainland Australia. Results show a close correlation between surface soil leachates, vegetation, surface water, and faunal 87Sr/86Sr results with extremely high values (0.78664) associated with ancient Precambrian geology. Our study suggests that measuring 87Sr/86Sr in soil and plant samples offer a reliable approach for assessing regional Sr isotope distribution, although the inclusion of mammal and freshwater samples is also important to assess exogenous inputs. This study provides an important tool for modern and prehistoric provenance studies and may aid in answering some of Australia's most enduring archaeological questions.
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    Journal Title
    GEOARCHAEOLOGY-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL
    Volume
    34
    Issue
    3
    DOI
    https://doi.org/10.1002/gea.21728
    Subject
    Earth sciences
    History, heritage and archaeology
    Publication URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/10072/385403
    Collection
    • Journal articles

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    Tagline

    • Gold Coast
    • Logan
    • Brisbane - Queensland, Australia
    First Peoples of Australia
    • Aboriginal
    • Torres Strait Islander