Enhancing archaeological mobility studies : Bayesian-modelled isoscapes and high-resolution refinement of the bioavailable strontium baseline in southern Scandinavia
Kjällquist, Mathilda LU and Boethius, Adam LU
(2026)
In Journal of Archaeological Science
187.
- Abstract
- Mapping spatial variability of bioavailable strontium isotopes (87Sr/86Sr) is fundamental to robust analyses of prehistoric human and animal mobility and provenance based on strontium isotope data. A key challenge is how to construct and extrapolate a baseline for specific landscapes to enable meaningful correlation with high-resolution archaeological data. This study presents a regional high-resolution strontium isotope baseline (isoscape) for southern Scandinavia, developed by integrating a dataset consisting of 1293 samples of water, plants, and micromammal teeth. Of these, 248 were newly collected from previously underrepresented areas, with particular attention to minimising modern contamination. Sampling density is high, with... (More)
- Mapping spatial variability of bioavailable strontium isotopes (87Sr/86Sr) is fundamental to robust analyses of prehistoric human and animal mobility and provenance based on strontium isotope data. A key challenge is how to construct and extrapolate a baseline for specific landscapes to enable meaningful correlation with high-resolution archaeological data. This study presents a regional high-resolution strontium isotope baseline (isoscape) for southern Scandinavia, developed by integrating a dataset consisting of 1293 samples of water, plants, and micromammal teeth. Of these, 248 were newly collected from previously underrepresented areas, with particular attention to minimising modern contamination. Sampling density is high, with approximately 15 sampling locations per 1000 km2 in Denmark and 5 per 1000 km2 in southern Sweden. Interpolated maps of bioavailable strontium were generated using Empirical Bayesian Kriging Regression Prediction (EBKRP), incorporating geological and topographic covariates (lithology, geological age, elevation, and gravity anomaly) to enhance predictive precision. The results reveal substantial geographic variation, with pronounced heterogeneity in geologically complex regions such as Blekinge in southeastern Sweden, while Denmark displays a more homogeneous isotopic distribution. A sea spray effect, resulting in lower 87Sr/86Sr values, is also evident along the Swedish west coast. This refined isoscape facilitates more precise assessments of mobility and provenance by combining multiproxy data (water, plants, fauna) with geostatistical modelling. This is illustrated on a local scale through an example from the Mesolithic site Ageröd I:HC, where the high-resolution model facilitates more detailed interpretations of Mesolithic mobility and hunting territories. The study thereby demonstrates a methodological framework for constructing and applying bioavailable strontium baselines with high regional detail in archaeological research. By integrating new and existing data with targeted sampling, rigorous analytical protocols, and advanced spatial modelling, the study highlights the importance of regional high-resolution, context-sensitive isoscapes and provides an improved framework for interpreting prehistoric mobility. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/f6e84136-2890-487b-bda5-40b10c18ca3c
- author
- Kjällquist, Mathilda
LU
and Boethius, Adam
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-03
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Strontium isotope analysis, Isoscape, Bioavailable strontium baseline, Empirical Bayesian Kriging Regression Prediction, Mobility, Provenancing, Southern Scandinavia
- in
- Journal of Archaeological Science
- volume
- 187
- article number
- 106487
- pages
- 16 pages
- publisher
- Academic Press
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105028336231
- ISSN
- 1095-9238
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jas.2026.106487
- project
- Mesolithic Social Networks and Territorial Tendencies in Southern Scandinavia
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- f6e84136-2890-487b-bda5-40b10c18ca3c
- date added to LUP
- 2026-01-23 12:17:15
- date last changed
- 2026-02-18 12:47:05
@article{f6e84136-2890-487b-bda5-40b10c18ca3c,
abstract = {{Mapping spatial variability of bioavailable strontium isotopes (87Sr/86Sr) is fundamental to robust analyses of prehistoric human and animal mobility and provenance based on strontium isotope data. A key challenge is how to construct and extrapolate a baseline for specific landscapes to enable meaningful correlation with high-resolution archaeological data. This study presents a regional high-resolution strontium isotope baseline (isoscape) for southern Scandinavia, developed by integrating a dataset consisting of 1293 samples of water, plants, and micromammal teeth. Of these, 248 were newly collected from previously underrepresented areas, with particular attention to minimising modern contamination. Sampling density is high, with approximately 15 sampling locations per 1000 km2 in Denmark and 5 per 1000 km2 in southern Sweden. Interpolated maps of bioavailable strontium were generated using Empirical Bayesian Kriging Regression Prediction (EBKRP), incorporating geological and topographic covariates (lithology, geological age, elevation, and gravity anomaly) to enhance predictive precision. The results reveal substantial geographic variation, with pronounced heterogeneity in geologically complex regions such as Blekinge in southeastern Sweden, while Denmark displays a more homogeneous isotopic distribution. A sea spray effect, resulting in lower 87Sr/86Sr values, is also evident along the Swedish west coast. This refined isoscape facilitates more precise assessments of mobility and provenance by combining multiproxy data (water, plants, fauna) with geostatistical modelling. This is illustrated on a local scale through an example from the Mesolithic site Ageröd I:HC, where the high-resolution model facilitates more detailed interpretations of Mesolithic mobility and hunting territories. The study thereby demonstrates a methodological framework for constructing and applying bioavailable strontium baselines with high regional detail in archaeological research. By integrating new and existing data with targeted sampling, rigorous analytical protocols, and advanced spatial modelling, the study highlights the importance of regional high-resolution, context-sensitive isoscapes and provides an improved framework for interpreting prehistoric mobility.}},
author = {{Kjällquist, Mathilda and Boethius, Adam}},
issn = {{1095-9238}},
keywords = {{Strontium isotope analysis; Isoscape; Bioavailable strontium baseline; Empirical Bayesian Kriging Regression Prediction; Mobility; Provenancing; Southern Scandinavia}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{Academic Press}},
series = {{Journal of Archaeological Science}},
title = {{Enhancing archaeological mobility studies : Bayesian-modelled isoscapes and high-resolution refinement of the bioavailable strontium baseline in southern Scandinavia}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2026.106487}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.jas.2026.106487}},
volume = {{187}},
year = {{2026}},
}