Isotopic Perspectives on Residence Patterns at Point San Jose

Abstract

This chapter uses a biogeochemical approach aimed at identifying probable regions of origins (provenance) of the anatomized individuals interred in the medical waste deposit recovered from behind the Point San Jose Hospital. To identify childhood and adult residence patterns, oxygen isotope and strontium isotope data was collected on eight bone-tooth pairs from the same set of skulls. These data reflect the geographic sources of drinking water and food, respectively. The isotope data was then used to generate “isoscape” (isotope landscape) prediction areas for each individual using baseline water and soil data for the continental US. The data suggest most of the individuals examined did not live in any of the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties for any extended period prior to death. Thus, these data provide support for the hypothesis that individuals used for anatomical dissection may have engaged in considerable mobility, in both their childhood and adult years.