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Stable Isotope Analysis in Archaeological Science and Mummy Studies

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The Handbook of Mummy Studies

Abstract

Isotope analysis using bone collagen, bone apatite, and tooth enamel is widely performed to reconstruct the histories of societies and the biographies of individuals around the world. In such analyses, researchers have used a variety of elements, selectively according to their specific investigative objectives. Carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios, for instance, are useful for the estimation of ancient diets; strontium, lead, oxygen, hydrogen, and sulfur isotope ratios can track migrations and locate birthplaces. Mummification often maintains soft tissues that, relative to hard tissues, contain isotopic information that is of a shorter turnover rate and, therefore, contributing key details to personal and social histories. In this chapter, we introduce several cases of isotopic analysis of mummy tissues involving various elements.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Yamagata University, Yamagata, Japan

    Mai Takigami

  2. Laboratory of Radiocarbon Dating, The University Museum, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

    Minoru Yoneda

Authors
  1. Mai Takigami
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  2. Minoru Yoneda
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Correspondence to Mai Takigami .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea (Republic of)

    Dong Hoon Shin

  2. University of Warwick, Coventry, UK

    Raffaella Bianucci

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Takigami, M., Yoneda, M. (2020). Stable Isotope Analysis in Archaeological Science and Mummy Studies. In: Shin, D.H., Bianucci, R. (eds) The Handbook of Mummy Studies. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1614-6_8-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1614-6_8-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-981-15-1614-6

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