Tag #Strontium Isotopes

How does the strontium isotope analysis of plants contribute to a broader understanding of human migration patterns, both historically and in contemporary contexts?

The study highlights the devastating scale of the transatlantic slave trade, estimating over 12.5 million African victims. By analyzing strontium isotopes in plants, the researchers successfully identified the geographic origins of some victims buried in North and South America, offering a way to personalize this dark chapter of history. The method also has implications for tracking illegal activities, like wildlife trafficking and illegal logging.