Study of skeletons of the Iron Age cemetery of Tabriz by strontium isotopes analysis

Stable isotopes analysis, being used in many research areas, has also been applied in archaeology during the last three decades to address the questions regarding the paleoclimatology and ancient diet, mobility, and migration. This research aims to study the human skeleton remains of Iron Age site of Blue Mosque in Tabriz, Iran, using strontium stable isotopes and trace elements analysis. Tooth and bone samples obtained from skeletons of this archaeological site were studied through strontium isotopes ratio (87Sr/86Sr) and trace elements analysis, determining Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca contents, to address the question if the skeletons are local or not. Results of 87Sr/86Sr measurements revealed that all the samples could be considered as local except of sample no. 81/8, which belongs to a female individual, as its isotopic ratio was out of the local range (local mean ± 2 SD). Results of trace elements analysis (Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca ratios) obtained for both sample groups (teeth and bones) demonstrate that there of is no significant difference between the two sample groups. Therefore, all the skeletons could be considered as local.