Sr-Pb isotope differences in pre- and post-burial human bone, teeth, and hair keratin: implications for isotope forensics.

ABSTRACT: The isotopic signatures of human tissues can provide valuable information on geographic origin for medicolegal investigations involving unidentified persons. It is important to understand the impact of diagenetic processes on isotopic signatures, as alterations could result in incorrect estimation of geographic origin. This study examines alterations in isotope signatures of different tissues of five human body donors studied throughout decomposition at the Forensic Anthropology Research Facility (FARF), San Marcos, TX. Two body donors were buried, two were placed in open pits, and one was first allowed to naturally mummify and then buried. Remains were recovered after a period of 7-34 months. The preplacement and post-recovery Sr-Pb isotope data of scalp hair, bone (iliac and tibia), and

SUBMITTER: Kootker LM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10772009 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature