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[HTT16-14] Identification of the origin of the burials in Bahrain by comparing the oxygen and strontium isotope compositions of well water and the human teeth
Keywords:Oxygen isotope, Strontium isotope, Human teeth, Water, Origin identification
Bahrain, an island in the Persian Gulf, was a major transit point for maritime trade from India to Europe via the Middle East. During the Tylos period (300 BC - 300 AD), the island experienced significant movement of people. Numerous burial mounds were constructed in Bahrain during the Tylos period, but the identities of the individuals interred in these mounds remain unknown. The high traffic to the area suggests that the burial mounds may have been inhabited by people from Bahrain and the surrounding Arab Gulf countries, as well as by people from farther away. One candidate is a trader from the Syrian city-state of Palmyra (Fig.1), which played an important role in the trade networks of this period.
Water on earth has specific oxygen isotope ratios in different regions, reflecting geographical conditions. Specifically, the oxygen isotope ratio of teeth reflects the value of drinking water during childhood, when each tooth species is formed, and is an indicator of origin. Similarly, strontium isotope ratios vary by region, reflecting the geological origin of each area.Strontium is chemically similar to calcium, so it is incorporated into teeth by mixing with calcium. Like oxygen isotope ratios, strontium isotope compositions are also reliable indicators of place of origin.
This study set out to clarify the burials of the Maqaba burial mounds of the Tylos period in Bahrain. To this end, it conducted oxygen and carbon isotope analysis by GasBench-IRMS and strontium isotope analysis by MC-ICP-MS of tooth enamel from human bones excavated from the tombs. This analysis estimated their childhood eating habits and place of origin.
A database of oxygen isotope compositions of precipitation in the Persian Gulf is publicly available. However, rainwater has traditionally not been used as drinking water in the Gulf region. Well water, spring water, and oasis water have been used instead. This study measured the oxygen isotope compositions of spring water, well water, rain water, and bottled water collected in Bahrain by Picarro and we compared the ratios with human remains as surrogate values for ancient drinking water.
By the results, most of the adults from the Maqaba burial mounds had lower oxygen isotope compositions than those of well water, spring water, rainwater, and dogs excavated from the mounds analyzed as indicators of locality in Baharain. This indicates that they were from regions inland or at higher latitudes than Baharain. However, it is not sufficient for precise regional identification only by the oxygen isotope composition, as the region with the water oxygen isotope composition matching the adult bones of the Maqaba burial mounds extends beyond Syria, encompassing Turkey, Iraq, and Iran, all of which share the same latitude.To refine our Identification, we expanded our analysis to incorporate strontium isotope composition.
Water on earth has specific oxygen isotope ratios in different regions, reflecting geographical conditions. Specifically, the oxygen isotope ratio of teeth reflects the value of drinking water during childhood, when each tooth species is formed, and is an indicator of origin. Similarly, strontium isotope ratios vary by region, reflecting the geological origin of each area.Strontium is chemically similar to calcium, so it is incorporated into teeth by mixing with calcium. Like oxygen isotope ratios, strontium isotope compositions are also reliable indicators of place of origin.
This study set out to clarify the burials of the Maqaba burial mounds of the Tylos period in Bahrain. To this end, it conducted oxygen and carbon isotope analysis by GasBench-IRMS and strontium isotope analysis by MC-ICP-MS of tooth enamel from human bones excavated from the tombs. This analysis estimated their childhood eating habits and place of origin.
A database of oxygen isotope compositions of precipitation in the Persian Gulf is publicly available. However, rainwater has traditionally not been used as drinking water in the Gulf region. Well water, spring water, and oasis water have been used instead. This study measured the oxygen isotope compositions of spring water, well water, rain water, and bottled water collected in Bahrain by Picarro and we compared the ratios with human remains as surrogate values for ancient drinking water.
By the results, most of the adults from the Maqaba burial mounds had lower oxygen isotope compositions than those of well water, spring water, rainwater, and dogs excavated from the mounds analyzed as indicators of locality in Baharain. This indicates that they were from regions inland or at higher latitudes than Baharain. However, it is not sufficient for precise regional identification only by the oxygen isotope composition, as the region with the water oxygen isotope composition matching the adult bones of the Maqaba burial mounds extends beyond Syria, encompassing Turkey, Iraq, and Iran, all of which share the same latitude.To refine our Identification, we expanded our analysis to incorporate strontium isotope composition.