Provenance study of oyster shells by LA-ICP-MS

Provenance determination of archaeological remains is a valuable tool for reconstruction past exchange networks. Among these materials, oyster shells are ubiquitous in sites from all prehistorical and historical periods. Thus, they seem to be promising candidates provenance identification as include chemical elements the environment their shells, which implies that an elemental fingerprint region origin can recorded shell composition. In this study, we present measurements 15 groups modern 13 continental localities mainland France island Corsica (western Mediterranean Sea). Two had two species (Crassostrea gigas Ostrea edulis). Results indicate (i) species-specific exists (ii) Atlantic Ocean Sea provenances identified O. edulis shells. Moreover, if originated locality only partially connected ocean (e.g. estuary or lagoon), specific watershed also observed, even between originating same bay. Using reference fingerprints, characterize unearthed at Lyons (central France, 200 km away nearest shoreline), dated 1st c. CE.