Abstract
Distinct patterns can be discerned in the extensive ritual tooth ablation found among the human skeletal remains of the Late-Final Jomon period (ca. 3200-2800 cal BP) in Japan. Based on comparative observations of sex and grave patterns in the skeletal remains, two major patterns in ritual tooth ablation, termed type 4I and type 2C, have been assigned to locals and immigrants, respectively. In order to test this hypothesis, strontium (Sr) isotope (87Sr/86Sr) analyses were performed on human skeletal remains from the Yoshigo shell mound in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan. Plants in the surrounding area were also examined to illustrate the geographic 87Sr/86Sr distribution. The Sr isotopic variation in human tooth enamel (87Sr/86Sr = 0.70868-0.71028) was greater than that in human bones (87Sr/86Sr = 0.70871-0.70943). Individuals with higher Sr isotope ratios in their tooth enamel than seawater Sr values of 0.7092 can be identified as immigrants (36% of population). The presence of these isotopically identified immigrants between both type 2C and type 4I individuals does not support the previous hypothesis. The intra-population 87Sr/86Sr distribution of tooth enamel of type 2C individuals showed a significantly higher mean ratio than that of type 4I individuals, suggesting a higher proportion of immigrants among the former.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2289-2297 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Journal of Archaeological Science |
| Volume | 36 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2009 |
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Keywords
- Hunter-gatherers
- Jomon period
- Mobility
- Ritual tooth ablation
- Strontium isotopes
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- History
- Archaeology
Cite this
A strontium isotope analysis on the relationship between ritual tooth ablation and migration among the Jomon people in Japan. / Kusaka, Soichiro; Ando, Atsushi; Nakano, Takanori; Yumoto, Takakazu; Ishimaru, Eriko; Yoneda, Minoru; Hyodo, Fujio; Katayama, Kazumichi.
In: Journal of Archaeological Science, Vol. 36, No. 10, 10.2009, p. 2289-2297.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - A strontium isotope analysis on the relationship between ritual tooth ablation and migration among the Jomon people in Japan
AU - Kusaka, Soichiro
AU - Ando, Atsushi
AU - Nakano, Takanori
AU - Yumoto, Takakazu
AU - Ishimaru, Eriko
AU - Yoneda, Minoru
AU - Hyodo, Fujio
AU - Katayama, Kazumichi
PY - 2009/10
Y1 - 2009/10
N2 - Distinct patterns can be discerned in the extensive ritual tooth ablation found among the human skeletal remains of the Late-Final Jomon period (ca. 3200-2800 cal BP) in Japan. Based on comparative observations of sex and grave patterns in the skeletal remains, two major patterns in ritual tooth ablation, termed type 4I and type 2C, have been assigned to locals and immigrants, respectively. In order to test this hypothesis, strontium (Sr) isotope (87Sr/86Sr) analyses were performed on human skeletal remains from the Yoshigo shell mound in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan. Plants in the surrounding area were also examined to illustrate the geographic 87Sr/86Sr distribution. The Sr isotopic variation in human tooth enamel (87Sr/86Sr = 0.70868-0.71028) was greater than that in human bones (87Sr/86Sr = 0.70871-0.70943). Individuals with higher Sr isotope ratios in their tooth enamel than seawater Sr values of 0.7092 can be identified as immigrants (36% of population). The presence of these isotopically identified immigrants between both type 2C and type 4I individuals does not support the previous hypothesis. The intra-population 87Sr/86Sr distribution of tooth enamel of type 2C individuals showed a significantly higher mean ratio than that of type 4I individuals, suggesting a higher proportion of immigrants among the former.
AB - Distinct patterns can be discerned in the extensive ritual tooth ablation found among the human skeletal remains of the Late-Final Jomon period (ca. 3200-2800 cal BP) in Japan. Based on comparative observations of sex and grave patterns in the skeletal remains, two major patterns in ritual tooth ablation, termed type 4I and type 2C, have been assigned to locals and immigrants, respectively. In order to test this hypothesis, strontium (Sr) isotope (87Sr/86Sr) analyses were performed on human skeletal remains from the Yoshigo shell mound in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan. Plants in the surrounding area were also examined to illustrate the geographic 87Sr/86Sr distribution. The Sr isotopic variation in human tooth enamel (87Sr/86Sr = 0.70868-0.71028) was greater than that in human bones (87Sr/86Sr = 0.70871-0.70943). Individuals with higher Sr isotope ratios in their tooth enamel than seawater Sr values of 0.7092 can be identified as immigrants (36% of population). The presence of these isotopically identified immigrants between both type 2C and type 4I individuals does not support the previous hypothesis. The intra-population 87Sr/86Sr distribution of tooth enamel of type 2C individuals showed a significantly higher mean ratio than that of type 4I individuals, suggesting a higher proportion of immigrants among the former.
KW - Hunter-gatherers
KW - Jomon period
KW - Mobility
KW - Ritual tooth ablation
KW - Strontium isotopes
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=68349107972&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=68349107972&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jas.2009.06.013
DO - 10.1016/j.jas.2009.06.013
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:68349107972
VL - 36
SP - 2289
EP - 2297
JO - Journal of Archaeological Science
JF - Journal of Archaeological Science
SN - 0305-4403
IS - 10
ER -