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Strontium and paleodietary research: A review
Author(s) -
Sillen Andrew,
Kavanagh Maureen
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
american journal of physical anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1096-8644
pISSN - 0002-9483
DOI - 10.1002/ajpa.1330250505
Subject(s) - strontium , calcium , food chain , prehistory , zoology , biology , chemistry , archaeology , ecology , geography , organic chemistry
The measurement of skeletal strontium/calcium (Sr/Ca) ratios can provide information on the proportion of meat and vegetable foods in the diets of prehistoric peoples. This information is based in the well‐documented reduction of Sr/Ca ratios in terrestrial food chains. The reduction, and therefore the paleodietary technique, is complicated by (a) differences in Sr/Ca ratios entering food chains, and (b) metabolic considerations such as age, pregnancy, etc. Changes in Sr/Ca ratios during interment may also obscure biological Sr/Ca levels. The theoretical basis of the technique, its complications, and practical use by anthropologists are reviewed, in an attempt to define the quality of information currently and potentially available from Sr/Ca analyses.