IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v15y2024i1d10.1038_s41467-024-55256-0.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Strontium isoscape of sub-Saharan Africa allows tracing origins of victims of the transatlantic slave trade

Author

Listed:
  • Xueye Wang

    (Sichuan University
    University of California Santa Cruz)

  • Gaëlle Bocksberger

    (University of California Santa Cruz
    Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F))

  • Mimi Arandjelovic

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Anthony Agbor

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Samuel Angedakin

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Floris Aubert

    (Wild Chimpanzee Foundation)

  • Emmanuel Ayuk Ayimisin

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Emma Bailey

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Donatienne Barubiyo

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Mattia Bessone

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • René Bobe

    (University of Oxford
    Gorongosa National Park)

  • Matthieu Bonnet

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Renée Boucher

    (University of California Santa Cruz)

  • Gregory Brazzola

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Simon Brewer

    (University of Utah)

  • Kevin C. Lee

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Susana Carvalho

    (University of Oxford
    Gorongosa National Park)

  • Rebecca Chancellor

    (West Chester University)

  • Chloe Cipoletta

    (Wildlife Conservation Society)

  • Heather Cohen

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Sandi R. Copeland

    (Los Alamos National Laboratory)

  • Katherine Corogenes

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Ana Maria Costa

    (University of Lisbon)

  • Charlotte Coupland

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Bryan Curran

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Darryl J. Ruiter

    (Texas A&M University)

  • Tobias Deschner

    (University of Osnabrück)

  • Paula Dieguez

    (German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv))

  • Karsten Dierks

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Emmanuel Dilambaka

    (Wildlife Conservation Society)

  • Dervla Dowd

    (Wild Chimpanzee Foundation)

  • Andrew Dunn

    (Wildlife Conservation Society)

  • Villard Ebot Egbe

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Manfred Finckh

    (University of Hamburg)

  • Barbara Fruth

    (Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior)

  • Liza Gijanto

    (St. Mary’s College of Maryland)

  • Yisa Ginath Yuh

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Annemarie Goedmakers

    (Chimbo Foundation)

  • Cameron Gokee

    (Appalachian State University)

  • Rui Gomes Coelho

    (Durham University
    University of Lisbon)

  • Alan H. Goodman

    (Hampshire College)

  • Anne-Céline Granjon

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Vaughan Grimes

    (Memorial University)

  • Cyril C. Grueter

    (The University of Western Australia)

  • Anne Haour

    (University of East Anglia)

  • Daniela Hedwig

    (Cornell University)

  • Veerle Hermans

    (Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp)

  • R. Adriana Hernandez-Aguilar

    (Serra Hunter Programme
    Dindefelo Biological Station)

  • Gottfried Hohmann

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Inaoyom Imong

    (Wildlife Conservation Society)

  • Kathryn J. Jeffery

    (University of Stirling)

  • Sorrel Jones

    (The David Attenborough Building)

  • Jessica Junker

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Parag Kadam

    (University of Georgia)

  • Mbangi Kambere

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Mohamed Kambi

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Ivonne Kienast

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Kelly J. Knudson

    (Arizona State University)

  • Kevin E. Langergraber

    (Arizona State University)

  • Vincent Lapeyre

    (Wild Chimpanzee Foundation)

  • Juan Lapuente

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Bradley Larson

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Thea Lautenschläger

    (Technische Universität Dresden
    Universität Hamburg)

  • Petrus Roux

    (University of Cape Town)

  • Vera Leinert

    (Wild Chimpanzee Foundation)

  • Manuel Llana

    (Dindefelo Biological Station)

  • Amanda Logan

    (Northwestern University)

  • Brynn Lowry

    (University of California Santa Cruz)

  • Tina Lüdecke

    (Max Planck Institute for Chemistry)

  • Giovanna Maretti

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Sergio Marrocoli

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Rumen Fernandez

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Patricia J. McNeill

    (University of California at Davis)

  • Amelia C. Meier

    (University of Hawai’i at Manoa)

  • Paulina Meller

    (University of Hamburg)

  • J. Cameron Monroe

    (University of California Santa Cruz)

  • David Morgan

    (Lincoln Park Zoo)

  • Felix Mulindahabi

    (Wildlife Conservation Society)

  • Mizuki Murai

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Emily Neil

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
    University of Oxford)

  • Sonia Nicholl

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Protais Niyigaba

    (Wildlife Conservation Society)

  • Emmanuelle Normand

    (Wild Chimpanzee Foundation (WCF))

  • Lucy Jayne Ormsby

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Orume Diotoh

    (Korup National Park)

  • Liliana Pacheco

    (Cernavoda)

  • Alex Piel

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
    University College London)

  • Jodie Preece

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Sebastien Regnaut

    (Wild Chimpanzee Foundation)

  • Francois G. Richard

    (University of Chicago)

  • Michael P. Richards

    (Simon Fraser University)

  • Aaron Rundus

    (West Chester University)

  • Crickette Sanz

    (Washington University in St. Louis
    Congo Program)

  • Volker Sommer

    (University College London
    Gashaka Primate Project)

  • Matt Sponheimer

    (University of Colorado Boulder)

  • Teresa E. Steele

    (University of California at Davis)

  • Fiona A. Stewart

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
    University College London)

  • Nikki Tagg

    (Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp)

  • Luc Roscelin Tédonzong

    (Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp)

  • Alexander Tickle

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Lassané Toubga

    (Université Joseph KI-ZERBO)

  • Joost Schijndel

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Virginie Vergnes

    (Wild Chimpanzee Foundation (WCF))

  • Nadege Wangue Njomen

    (WWF Cameroon Country Office)

  • Erin G. Wessling

    (Harvard University
    University of St. Andrews)

  • Jacob Willie

    (Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp)

  • Roman M. Wittig

    (University of Lyon 1
    Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques)

  • Kyle Yurkiw

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Andrew M. Zipkin

    (Arizona State University)

  • Klaus Zuberbühler

    (Institut de Biologie)

  • Hjalmar S. Kühl

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
    German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv)
    Senckenberg-Member of the Leibniz Association
    Technische Universität Dresden)

  • Christophe Boesch

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Vicky M. Oelze

    (University of California Santa Cruz)

Abstract

Strontium isotope (87Sr/86Sr) analysis with reference to strontium isotope landscapes (Sr isoscapes) allows reconstructing mobility and migration in archaeology, ecology, and forensics. However, despite the vast potential of research involving 87Sr/86Sr analysis particularly in Africa, Sr isoscapes remain unavailable for the largest parts of the continent. Here, we measure the 87Sr/86Sr ratios in 778 environmental samples from 24 African countries and combine this data with published data to model a bioavailable Sr isoscape for sub-Saharan Africa using random forest regression. We demonstrate the efficacy of this Sr isoscape, in combination with other lines of evidence, to trace the African roots of individuals from historic slavery contexts, particularly those with highly radiogenic 87Sr/86Sr ratios uncommon in the African Diaspora. Our study provides an extensive African 87Sr/86Sr dataset which includes scientifically marginalized regions of Africa, with significant implications for the archaeology of the transatlantic slave trade, wildlife ecology, conservation, and forensics.

Suggested Citation

  • Xueye Wang & Gaëlle Bocksberger & Mimi Arandjelovic & Anthony Agbor & Samuel Angedakin & Floris Aubert & Emmanuel Ayuk Ayimisin & Emma Bailey & Donatienne Barubiyo & Mattia Bessone & René Bobe & Matth, 2024. "Strontium isoscape of sub-Saharan Africa allows tracing origins of victims of the transatlantic slave trade," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-55256-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-55256-0
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-55256-0
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-024-55256-0?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-55256-0. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.