What valuable data about ancient peoples in Mesoamerica have archaeologists been able to obtain from stable isotope analysis of the strontium in teeth from human remains?Group of answer choicesWhere they were born and raisedHow old they were when they diedWhat their diet consisted ofExtracted DNA to map their genomes
Question
What valuable data about ancient peoples in Mesoamerica have archaeologists been able to obtain from stable isotope analysis of the strontium in teeth from human remains?Group of answer choicesWhere they were born and raisedHow old they were when they diedWhat their diet consisted ofExtracted DNA to map their genomes
Solution
Stable isotope analysis of strontium in teeth from human remains has provided archaeologists with valuable data about ancient peoples in Mesoamerica. Here's how:
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Where they were born and raised: Strontium isotopes can provide information about the geological makeup of the area where a person lived during their childhood, when their teeth were forming. This is because strontium is absorbed from the soil by plants, and then enters the human body through the food chain. Different regions have different strontium isotope ratios, so by analyzing these ratios in teeth, archaeologists can make educated guesses about where individuals were born and raised.
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What their diet consisted of: Isotopes can also provide information about diet. For example, different types of plants (like corn or beans) and different types of meat (like deer or rabbit) have different isotope ratios. By analyzing these ratios in human remains, archaeologists can get an idea of what types of food a person was eating.
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Extracted DNA to map their genomes: While this is not directly related to strontium isotope analysis, the extraction of DNA from ancient teeth can provide a wealth of information about a person's genetic makeup. This can help archaeologists understand things like familial relationships, population movements, and even susceptibility to certain diseases.
However, it's important to note that strontium isotope analysis cannot provide information about how old individuals were when they died. Age at death is typically determined through other methods, such as the analysis of bone development and wear.
Similar Questions
When written texts are unavailable, what are the two ways archaeologists can most assign confidently approximate dates to ancient items, structures, or organic remains?Group of answer choicesApplying the concept of stratigraphy when conducting an archaeological excavationCarbon-14 (radiocarbon) datingStrontium isotope analysis of teeth and bonesStudying dental enamel hypoplasia
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What can we learn from the palaeolithic age?
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