New dental and isotope evidence of biological distance and place of origin for mass burial groups at C ahokia's mound 72

A new analysis challenges the notion that mass burial groups at Cahokia's Mound 72 were non-local sacrificial offerings, instead suggesting they may have originated from within the region. Using dental morphology and strontium isotope (Sr) analyses, researchers found these individuals phenotypically similar to other regional groups, with Sr signatures aligning with Cahokia's local range. However, one burial group (F229-lower) exhibited distinct biological traits, indicating possible migration or a restricted population from an outside region with a similar Sr signature. This study refines interpretations of early Mississippian sociopolitical dynamics at Cahokia by integrating multiple indicators of relatedness and origin.

Thompson, A. R., Hedman, K. M., & Slater, P. A. (2015). New dental and isotope evidence of biological distance and place of origin for mass burial groups atCahokia’s mound 72. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 158(2), 341–357. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.22791