Decoding the dead: new combined application of strontium and lead isotope analysis to Romano-British cremations from Colchester (UK)
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Archaeology, Durham University 1 , Durham, UK
- 2York Museums Trust 3 , York, UK
- 3University of Reading 4 , Berkshire, UK
- 4Department of Earth Sciences, Durham University 2 , Durham, UK
Abstract
This paper presents an innovative application of two distinct isotope systems to paired otic capsule and outer petrous bone samples from cremated remains. This dual analysis approach, applied to 22 human cremation burials from Roman Colchester (UK), demonstrates evidence for origins outside Britain for several individuals, shedding fresh light on an emerging capital city within a new province of the Roman Empire. Results have implications for understanding the population dynamics of large Roman provincial urban centres following the conquest period in the north-western provinces, when cremation is the dominant burial practice. The method also allows a detailed reconstruction of individual mobility at different ages within an individual's life.
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BibTeX
@article{moore2026decoding,
title = {{Decoding the dead: new combined application of strontium and lead isotope analysis to Romano-British cremations from Colchester (UK)}},
author = {Joanna Moore and Glynn J. C. Davis and Hella Eckardt and Geoff M. Nowell and Janet Montgomery},
journal = {Royal Society Open Science},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1098/rsos.260591},
url = {https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article/13/11/260591/483995/Decoding-the-dead-new-combined-application-of},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Decoding the dead: new combined application of strontium and lead isotope analysis to Romano-British cremations from Colchester (UK)
AU - Joanna Moore
AU - Glynn J. C. Davis
AU - Hella Eckardt
AU - Geoff M. Nowell
AU - Janet Montgomery
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/04
JO - Royal Society Open Science
DO - 10.1098/rsos.260591
UR - https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article/13/11/260591/483995/Decoding-the-dead-new-combined-application-of
AB - This paper presents an innovative application of two distinct isotope systems to paired otic capsule and outer petrous bone samples from cremated remains. This dual analysis approach, applied to 22 human cremation burials from Roman Colchester (UK), demonstrates evidence for origins outside Britain for several individuals, shedding fresh light on an emerging capital city within a new province of the Roman Empire. Results have implications for understanding the population dynamics of large Roman provincial urban centres following the conquest period in the north-western provinces, when cremation is the dominant burial practice. The method also allows a detailed reconstruction of individual mobility at different ages within an individual's life.
SN - 2054-5703
ER -