Crossing the Borders: New Methods and Techniques in the Study of Archaeological Materials from the Caribbean

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Figure 15.4. Sr isotopic ratios for human enamel and rice rat enamel samples. Samples are
sorted in order of increasing 87 Sr/ 86 Sr within each group. The horizontal bar represents the
mean strontium ratio found for the local soil.
Provenance of Nonlocals?
Nonlocal individuals were raised in another geochemical environment. Where exactly
they came from cannot be determined at present since sufficient geochemical
and bioarchaeological data from the region are missing. The majority of individuals
with a nonlocal strontium isotope signature have lower values. Because the
local rock values for the volcanic islands are known to be significantly lower (Mac-
Donald et al. 2000) it seems plausible that these individuals had spent their childhood
in the volcanic part of Guadeloupe ( Basse- Terre) or other volcanic islands.
Individuals growing up on these islands are expected to have 87 Sr/ 86 Sr values between
the local rock value and seawater values.
Further Study
The strontium isotope values from Anse à la Gourde indicate that it is possible
to acquire information on residential mobility in a population from the Late Ceramic
period. However, more data are needed concerning the diet of the population
to assess the contribution of various sources of strontium to the biogenic
strontium ratio of the enamel. In order to determine the provenance of the nonlocal
individuals, three approaches are necessary. More strontium isotope data of
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