biostudies-literatureDalle SEuropean Research CouncilFonds De La Recherche Scientifique - FNRSFonds Wetenschappelijk OnderzoekVUB Strategic Research ProgrammeFonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, Belgium & Slovenian Research Agency9280https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9166795biostudies-literatureUnknown12(1)The high temperatures reached during cremation lead to the destruction of organic matter preventing the use of traditional isotopic methods for dietary reconstructions. Still, strontium isotope (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) and concentration ([Sr]) analyses of cremated human remains offer a novel way to assess changing consumption patterns in past populations that practiced cremation, as evidenced by a large amount of new data obtained from Metal Ages and Gallo-Roman human remains from Destelbergen, Belgium. The Gallo-Roman results show significantly higher [Sr] and a narrower interquartile range in ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.7093-0.7095), close to the value of modern-day seawater (0.7092). This contrasts with the Metal Ages results, which display lower concentrations and a widScientific reportsStrontium isotopes and concentrations in cremated bones suggest an increased salt consumption in Gallo-Roman diet.PMC916679511A6221NFWOAL1005948913(Amanda Sengeløv)3099978211F1120NAnnaert RDe Mulder GSengelov AHlad MDalle SSnoeck CSalesse KVercauteren MBoudin MSabaux CStamataki EBoonants TGerritzen CTGoderis SVeselka BCapuzzo GWarmenbol EfalseStrontium isotopes and concentrations in cremated bones suggest an increased salt consumption in Gallo-Roman diet.The high temperatures reached during cremation lead to the destruction of organic matter preventing the use of traditional isotopic methods for dietary reconstructions. Still, strontium isotope (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) and concentration ([Sr]) analyses of cremated human remains offer a novel way to assess changing consumption patterns in past populations that practiced cremation, as evidenced by a large amount of new data obtained from Metal Ages and Gallo-Roman human remains from Destelbergen, Belgium. The Gallo-Roman results show significantly higher [Sr] and a narrower interquartile range in ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.7093-0.7095), close to the value of modern-day seawater (0.7092). This contrasts with the Metal Ages results, which display lower concentrations and a wid2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Jun2025-04-21T14:11:51.44Z2025-04-21T14:11:51.44ZS-EPMC91667953566074910.1038/s41598-022-12880-4