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Strontium isotope analysis on cremated human remains from Stonehenge support links with west Wales

Abstract:
Cremated human remains from Stonehenge provide direct evidence on the life of those few select individuals buried at this iconic Neolithic monument. The practice of cremation has, however, precluded the application of strontium isotope analysis of tooth enamel as the standard chemical approach to study their origin. New developments in strontium isotopic analysis of cremated bone reveal that at least 10 of the 25 cremated individuals analysed did not spend their lives on the Wessex chalk on which the monument is found. Combined with the archaeological evidence, we suggest that their most plausible origin lies in west Wales, the source of the bluestones erected in the early stage of the monument's construction. These results emphasise the importance of inter-regional connections involving the movement of both materials and people in the construction and use of Stonehenge.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1038/s41598-018-28969-8

Authors

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Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
Social Sciences Division
Department:
School of Archaeology
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0001-8387-4499


Publisher:
Nature Publishing Group
Journal:
Scientific Reports More from this journal
Volume:
8
Issue:
1
Pages:
10790
Publication date:
2018-08-02
Acceptance date:
2018-06-28
DOI:
EISSN:
2045-2322
ISSN:
2045-2322
Pmid:
30072719


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
pubs:896609
UUID:
uuid:cecca393-4b20-4421-af47-f3931d2cb4c6
Local pid:
pubs:896609
Source identifiers:
896609
Deposit date:
2018-08-08
ARK identifier:

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