Premium
From the Piedmont to the Coast: LA‐ICP‐MS 87 Sr/ 86 Sr evidence for short‐term, long‐distance mobility in the American Southeast
Author(s) -
Quinn R. L.,
Prizzi M.,
Godfrey L.,
Setera J. B.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
archaeometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1475-4754
pISSN - 0003-813X
DOI - 10.1111/arcm.12576
Subject(s) - archaeology , river valley , geology , margin (machine learning) , geography , computer science , machine learning
Mounting evidence suggests that the Archaic Southeast shell mound builders had large‐scale trade networks and engaged in social aggregations. Here, incremental 87 Sr/ 86 Sr values were measured by laser ablation‐inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) in third molar enamel samples of 11 individuals interred in the Middle Archaic Harris Creek shell burial mound in St. John's River Valley (SJRV), Florida. Results reveal that SJRV residents engaged in short‐term, long‐distance mobility up to the Piedmont margin and excursions into coastal areas, consistent with direct trading and social gatherings. Two individuals are interpreted as migrants from central Tennessee, suggesting a link to the Ohio River Valley shell mound builders.