Identifying locals vs non-locals using 87Sr/86Sr isotope analysis: a multimethod approach in the homogeneous environments of the Arabian Gulf

A significant portion of humans and animals buried at the Dilmun Burial Mounds in Bahrain were identified as non-local, suggesting extensive trade and movement during the Early Dilmun to Islamic periods. Using a multimethod statistical approach on 87Sr/86Sr isotope analysis—combining human and herbivore enamel samples with previously published faunal data—the study found that 13.7% to 32.9% of humans and 18.5% to 44.4% of non-human animals exhibited strontium isotope ratios inconsistent with a local origin. This challenges the assumption that faunal samples alone can accurately define a 'local' range in geologically homogeneous regions like the Arabian Gulf, where trade was a prominent feature. The findings highlight the potential of statistical methods to identify probable non-locals even when detailed isoscape data are limited, though context-specific archaeological interpretation remains essential.

Littleton, J., & Smith, C. B. (2024). Identifying locals vs non-locals using 87Sr/86Sr isotope analysis: a multimethod approach in the homogeneous environments of the Arabian Gulf. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 16(2). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-024-01935-4