Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) (87)Sr/(86)Sr isotope data from scythian Iron age barrows in Altai, Russia

This paper reports LA-ICP-MS (87)Sr/(86)Sr isotopic data collected from archaeological human remains uncovered in Manzherok region, Altai Republic, Russian Federation (“Mobility of nomads in central Asia: chronology and (87)Sr/(86)Sr isotope evidence from the Pazyryk barrows of northern Altai, Russia” [1]. The skeletal remains derive from Scythian barrows dated to 6th – 3rd century BC located at Chultukov Log 1 cemetery. The Chultukov Log cemetery, located approximately 470km south of Novosibirsk, is considered the biggest nomadic burial ground in the Upper Altai and the Sayan Mountains. To enrich the information on prehistoric mobility of ancient nomadic populations in Central Asia, strontium isotopic data were collected using a Nu plasma (II) MC-ICP-MS equipped with ESI NWR193-based laser ablation system from premolar teeth of 8 adult individuals (4 males and 4 females), associated mainly with the Pazyryk culture. Additionally, we report bioavailable strontium data from single Equus caballus specimen (found at Chultukov Log 9 settlement) from Manzherok territory. In this study we have successfully applied and tested new in-depth decontamination protocol for total (<95%) removal of contaminants, necrotic tissue and dental calculus in archaeological materials based on a clinical irrigation procedure with NaOCl and EDTA. Strontium LA-ICP-MS (87)Sr/(86)Sr isotopic data presented in this paper were obtained from prehistoric human teeth previously decontaminated according to this method. These data will provide valuable resources for isotopic analyses of prehistoric transportation systems in Central Asia, including residential mobility of ancient nomads inhabiting steppe zone, Mongolia and NW China.