Homogeneous Glacial Landscapes Can Have High Local Variability of Strontium Isotope Signatures: Implications for Prehistoric Migration Studies

Increasingly, strontium (Sr) isotopes are used to distinguish locals and migrants in prehistoric studies, by measuring 87 Sr/ 86 Sr human remains comparing these values the distribution of bioavailable study area, often surface water. However, it has recently been shown that agricultural lime can have a substantial impact on ratio concentration water areas where soils low- non-calcareous. Agricultural is rich with low ratios, such interpretations migration based waters affected overestimate number given area. was questioned new study, which argues derived from retained topsoil fields therefore do not contaminate In present companion this volume, we show highly mobile soils, so extensively. We also ratios consistently higher “pristine areas” (where no applied within distance 150 m sample locality) than farmland, thus confirming vital importance for accurate mapping isoscapes avoid sampling contaminated lime. Our measurements central Jutland, Denmark, raise highest measured 0.7186. High between 0.7140 0.7156 occur repeatedly apparent nearly all finds previously believed journeyed afar more likely local origin. Furthermore, carbonate-rich along coast southwest Zealand carry high (0.7112–0.7132), would expect values. This surprising result indicates humans buried at Viking Age site, Trelleborg could well originated locally, contrast past suggested about 50% burials were individuals who came afar.