Strontium isotope ratios related to childhood mobility: Revisiting sampling strategies of the calcined human pars petrosa ossis temporalis

Rationale Strontium isotope analysis can be applied to the calcined human otic capsule in the petrous part (pars petrosa ossis temporalis; PP) to gain information on childhood mobility in archaeological and forensic contexts. However, only a thin layer of the otic capsule, the inner cortex, demonstrates virtually no remodelling. This paper proposes an improved sampling method for the accurate sampling of the inner cortex of the otic capsule to ensure that Sr-87/Sr-86 ratios related to early childhood are obtained. Methods Calcined rib and diaphyseal fragments and PP from ten cremation deposits are sampled for strontium isotope analysis, whereby our improved sampling strategy is applied to sample the inner cortex of the otic capsule. This allows inter- and intraskeletal Sr-87/Sr-86 comparison within an Iron Age collection from Oss, The Netherlands. Results Forty percent (4/10) of the calcined PP that were evaluated for this study show marked differences in Sr-87/Sr-86 (0.00035-0.00065) between the inner cortex and the bone sample surrounding this layer, the external cortex that has higher remodelling rates. Differences in Sr-87/Sr-86 between various skeletal elements also aided in the identification of the minimum number of individuals. Conclusions Our study demonstrates the problematic nature of the external cortex and stresses the need for a precise sampling method of the correct areas of the otic capsule. This can only be obtained by cutting the calcined PP midmodiolarly to enable adequate combustion degree assessment, and the correct identification and sampling of the inner cortex of the otic capsule.

Automated summary

This study highlights the importance of precise sampling methods for the inner cortex of the otic capsule in strontium isotope analysis, demonstrating significant differences in Sr-87/Sr-86 ratios between inner and external cortex samples. The results also aid in the identification of minimum number of individuals within an Iron Age collection from Oss, The Netherlands.