On the road again—a review of pretreatment methods for the decontamination of skeletal materials for strontium isotopic and concentration analysis

Abstract Strontium isotopic and concentration results from archeological skeletons have proved useful in demonstrating human animal mobility patterns, dietary life-history. This initiated the movement proxies to answer these questions. However, there remains an issue as whether produced values are those accumulated by individual during life not analytical artifact or result of remaining diagenetic material other forms contamination. Over last 40 years, been a variety protocols used with varying success remove contaminants prior analysis, well bone analysis solely enamel. review covers evolution pretreatment protocols, role technological advances producing accurate precise results, discussion best practices. Archeological case studies will demonstrate topics their limitations potential.