Warner Monica M, Plemons Amber M, Herrmann Nicholas P, Regan Laura A
Tennessee Valley Archaeological Research, 2119 Metro Circle SW, Suite B, Huntsville, AL, 35801.
Department of Anthropology, Michigan State University, 655 Auditorium Drive, East Lansing, MI, 48824.
J Forensic Sci. 2018 Mar;63(2):395-402. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.13575. Epub 2017 Jun 30.
Isoscape refinement is an essential component for accurately predicting region-of-origin in forensic investigations involving isotope analysis of unidentified human remains. Stable oxygen (δ O) and hydrogen (δ H) isotopes were measured from 57 tap water samples collected across Mississippi to model refined isoscapes for the state. A tap water conversion equation, δ O =1.64 δ Op-31.35, was developed for the southeastern USA to test the prediction accuracy of the δ O isoscape using individuals with known residential histories. A local Mississippi resident (USAFA-134) was assigned with 90% probability to the correct region-of-origin reported by the participant. Assignments for Georgia residents (USAFA-118 and USAFA-205) had variable results, predicting USAFA-118 from Mississippi and USAFA-205 as a nonlocal resident. Stable isotope values often overlap geographically and a multi-isotope approach should be used when narrowing region(s)-of-origin(s). This study demonstrates the utility of refining isoscapes and the importance of tissue calibration in prediction assignments of human remains.
同位素空间细化是在涉及不明人类遗骸同位素分析的法医调查中准确预测来源地的重要组成部分。从密西西比州各地采集的57份自来水样本中测量了稳定氧（δO）和氢（δH）同位素，以建立该州细化后的同位素空间模型。为美国东南部开发了一个自来水转换方程δO = 1.64δOp - 31.35，以使用具有已知居住历史的个体来测试δO同位素空间的预测准确性。一名密西西比州当地居民（USAFA - 134）被以90%的概率分配到参与者报告的正确来源地。对佐治亚州居民（USAFA - 118和USAFA - 205）的分配结果各不相同，预测USAFA - 118来自密西西比州，而USAFA - 205为非本地居民。稳定同位素值在地理上经常重叠，在缩小来源地范围时应采用多同位素方法。本研究证明了细化同位素空间的实用性以及组织校准在人类遗骸预测分配中的重要性。
