title: Identification of the geographical place of origin of an unidentified individual by multi-isotope analysis.
abstract: A multi-isotope investigation (Sr and Pb isotopes and δ18O, δ13C and δ15N) was applied to bone and teeth from an unidentified male found drowned in the"IJ" Ruyterkade in Amsterdam, The Netherlands in March of 1999. The individual remained unidentified until mid 2013, after the isotope study was completed. Coupled δ13C and δ15N values in bone collagen recovered from rib and femur are consistent with an omnivore living in a region where C3-type diet dominates (i.e. Europe). Integrated Sr and Pb isotopes and δ18O values in canine and third molar teeth and femur and rib bone data exclude extended residence in north-west Europe and particularly The Netherlands. Characteristic Pb isotope ratios coupled with inferred δ18O values of drinking water argue for a most probable place of origin for the unidentified individual in west and south Poland, south-east Slovakia and the region of Ukraine-Romania-Bulgaria, specifically the region associated with the Carpathian Mountains. Independent of the isotope study, the Cold Case Team made a positive identification with an individual from south-west Poland, validating the results of the multiple-isotopic approach.
authors.affiliation: Deep Earth Cluster, Faculty of Earth and Life Science (FALW), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1085 De Boelelaan, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: l.fontmorales@vu.nl.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Font
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Forensic Institute, Laan van Ypenburg 6, 2497 GB The Hague, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: van der Peijl
authors.affiliation: Bureau Bijzondere Recherche Expertise, Jan van den Oevergebouw, Kabelweg 25, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van Leuwen
authors.affiliation: Deep Earth Cluster, Faculty of Earth and Life Science (FALW), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1085 De Boelelaan, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Isis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: van Wetten
authors.affiliation: Deep Earth Cluster, Faculty of Earth and Life Science (FALW), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1085 De Boelelaan, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Gareth R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Davies
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry; D003481:Cuspid / Q000737:chemistry*; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000737:chemistry; D005269:Femur / Q000737:chemistry*; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007554:Isotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000737:chemistry*; D009426:Netherlands; D012272:Ribs / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D007554:Isotopes; D003094:Collagen
keywords: Bone; Enamel; Multi-isotope; Provenancing