In search of homelands: using strontium isotopes to identify biological markers of mobility in late prehistoric Portugal

摘要

This study uses strontium isotopes (87Sr/86Sr) in dental enamel from burial populations related to thefortified Chalcolithic settlement site of Zambujal (c. 2800e1800 BC) to distinguish the presence of nonlocalindividuals. Zambujal is located in the Estremadura region of Portugal near the Atlantic coast andhas long been considered a central location of population aggregation, craft production, and tradeduring a time of increasing political centralization and social stratification until its eventually abandonmentduring the Bronze Age. While it is assumed that population migration and long distance tradeplayed an important role in the region’s development, little is known about the migration patterns ofindividuals or groups. The results of this study find that nine percent (5 out of 55) of the total surveyedindividuals can be classified as non-local (based on 87Sr/86Sr values distinct from the local bioavailablerange of 0.7090e0.7115 as defined by 2sd of the sampled human mean), the majority of which comefrom one burial site, Cova da Moura. Comparisons with other regional data suggest the possibility thatsome of these non-locals come from the Alentejo region of the Portuguese interior, corresponding withknown exchange patterns.