Monte Alban and Teotihuacan connections: can stable isotope analysis of bone and enamel detect migration between two ancient Mesoamerican urban capitals?
Por:
Isabel, Casar, Marquez, Lourdes, Cienfuegos, Edith, Gonzalez Licon, Ernesto, Somerville, Andrew D.
Publicada:
1 dic 2022
Resumen:
Migration is an important factor in the process of urbanization in past
and present cities. This study presents new stable carbon and oxygen
isotope data from 38 human individuals buried at the ancient Zapotec
city of Monte Alban in the modern state of Oaxaca, Mexico. Both bone and
enamel tissues were sampled, providing the opportunity to explore
mobility over different phases of individuals' lives. The results
document the presence of two statistical outliers and three other
individuals who were likely born in foreign locations. One of these
non-local individuals (T.8-1(A)) exhibits exceptionally high stable
oxygen isotope values in both bone and enamel tissues, suggesting he was
born and spent most of his life in a region outside of the valley of
Oaxaca, perhaps within the city of Teotihuacan in the Basin of Mexico.
The other non-local and possible non-local individuals exhibit outlying
stable isotope values in their teeth, but not their bones, suggesting
they had moved to Monte Alban many years before death. The results of
this study are contextualized within a broader discussion about the
nature of the relationship between Monte Alban and Teotihuacan and the
possibility of using stable oxygen isotope analysis to detect migration
in pre-Hispanic Mesoamerica.
Filiaciones:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Inst Fis, Dept Estado Solido, Mexico City 04510, DF, Mexico
Escuela Nacl Antropol & Hist, Perifer Sur & Zapote S-N, Mexico City 14030, DF, Mexico
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Inst Geol, Lab Isotopos Estables, Lab Nacl Geoquim & Mineral, Mexico City 04510, DF, Mexico
Iowa State Univ, Dept World Languages & Cultures, Ames, IA 50011 USA
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