Stronti-YUM: Exploring diet using radiogenic and stable strontium isotope ratios and concentrations

Diet is a fundamental aspect of human society, and one that can provide crucial information about past populations. Commonly, carbon and nitrogen isotopes are employed to identify diet. In the case of cremated remains, where the process of cremation has irrevocably altered carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios, recent developments in stable strontium (δ88Sr) might provide us with the chance to view diet.

This presentation will showcase simultaneous triple strontium (87Sr/86Sr, δ88Sr, and [Sr]) data from modern food products, and archaeological animal and human remains, and highlight the potential for diet to be visible using just strontium measurements. Firstly, modern food experiments and archaeological animal samples show the difference in δ88Sr between marine and terrestrial resources as well as differences between terrestrial animals with different digestive tracts. Secondly, through applying these triple strontium proxies to archaeological remains, socio-cultural features of diet appear to emerge. Data from cremated remains in Belgium show potential signals of breastfeeding and salt consumption, and when compared to archaeological evidence from sites (such as grave good topology), social stratification in diet is seen. Lastly, this presentation will highlight the future potential in the application of these triple strontium proxies in archaeology and beyond.