Abstract
This paper reports LA-ICP-MS 87Sr/86Sr isotopic data collected from archaeological human remains uncovered in Manzherok region, Altai Republic, Russian Federation (“Mobility of nomads in central Asia: chronology and 87Sr/86Sr 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 87Sr/86Sr 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.
Keywords: Archaeology, Mobility, Stable isotopic analyses, Strontium, Nomads, Iron age, Altai, Russia
Specifications Table
| Subject area | Archaeology, Chemistry, Osteology, Geography |
| More specific subject area | Analyses of prehistoric mobility based on strontium isotopes; chemical analyses of prehistoric bone materials; Atomic Spectrometry |
| Type of data | Diagrams, table |
| How data was acquired | Nu plasma (II) Multiple-Collection ICP-MS |
| Data format | Raw isotopic data with diagrams |
| Experimental factors | Ancient teeth have been decontaminated for total removal of dental calculus according to Castagnola et al. 2014 irrigation protocol based on NaOCl and EDTA. |
| Experimental features | Nu plasma (II) MC-ICP-MS; System: ESI NWR193 ArF eximer based laser ablation system |
| Data source location | Manzherok, Altai Republic, Russian Federation, Chultukov Log 1 cemetery N 51º49,151′E 85º46,721′ |
| Data accessibility | In this paper |
| Related research article | Pokutta, D.A., Borodovskiy, A.P., Oleszczak, Ł., Tóth, P., Lidén, K. 2019. Mobility of nomads in Central Asia: chronology and87Sr/86Sr isotope evidence from the Pazyryk barrows of Northern Altai, Russia. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports (in press). |
Value of the Data
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1. Data
The dataset contains Nu plasma (II) MC-ICP-MS instrument settings, standard measurements, and 87Sr/86Sr isotopic data for human samples (premolars) [1]. Each skeleton has assigned ID, with number of scans, interspacing (μm), internal and external precision 2SE, and diagram. The measurements were adjusted to perikymata lines visible on the surface of the tooth, running from enamel from tip to cervix. The total number of scans was adjusted to scale of dental ware and tooth height. The detailed information regarding tombs analysed in shown in Table 1.
Table 1.
Summary of the of the archaeological materials analysed.
| Sample ID | Species | Location/site | Barrow ID | Age/sex of the deceased | Archaeological culture affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LA-ALT 47 | Homo S.S | Chultukov Log site no.1, Altai Republic, Russia | Barrow no. 47 | Adult female | Pazyryk culture |
| LA-ALT 53 | Homo S.S | Chultukov Log site no.1, Altai Republic, Russia | Barrow no.53 | Adult male | Bystrianka culture |
| LA-ALT 46 | Homo S.S | Chultukov Log site no.1, Altai Republic, Russia | Barrow no.46 | Adult female | Pazyryk culture |
| LA-ALT 12 | Homo S.S | Chultukov Log site no.1, Altai Republic, Russia | Barrow no.12 | Adult female | Pazyryk culture |
| LA-ALT 10 | Homo S.S | Chultukov Log site no.1, Altai Republic, Russia | Barrow no.10 | Adult male | Kara-Koba culture |
| LA-ALT 35 | Homo S.S | Chultukov Log site no.1, Altai Republic, Russia | Barrow no.35 | Adult female | Pazyryk culture |
| LA-ALT 112 | Homo S.S | Chultukov Log site no.1, Altai Republic, Russia | Barrow no.112 | Adult male | Pazyryk culture |
| LA-ALT 62 | Homo S.S | Chultukov Log site no.1, Altai Republic, Russia | Barrow no.62 | Adult male | Early Scythian period affiliation uncertain |
| LA 2 ALT AB 10 | Equus caballus | Chultukov Log site no.9, Altai Republic, Russia | Not applicable | Unknown | Not applicable |
Skeletal materials were obtained during excavations of Chultukov Log 1 barrow burial ground, led by A. Borodovskiy (Russian Academy of Sciences) and L. Oleszczak (Jagiellonian University in Cracow) in Manzherok region since 2000. This cemetery is comprised of 123 barrows and flat inhumations. Chronologically, it covers 1100 years, spanning the 7th century BC – 4th century AD. The cemetery is associated with three archaeological cultures, which represent distinct nomadic ethnic groups: the Pazyryk culture (7th–3rd century BC), the Bystrianka culture, and the Kara Koba culture (6th–3rd century BC; [[3], [4], [5],8,9]). The isotopic analyses were performed at Archaeological research Laboratory University of Stockholm and at Vegacenter, Natural History Museum in Stockholm, Sweden.
2. Experimental design, materials, and methods
2.1. Sample preparation and decontamination
In order to capture intra-tooth variation, dental calculus, necrotic tissue and other contaminants had to be removed [7]. The surface of the teeth (premolars) was cleaned with a brush and deionized water (Stockholm University ARL tap water: 87Sr/86Sr 0.726). The samples were then sonicated in deionized water for approximately 10 min and subsequently rinsed with deionized water; this procedure was repeated twice. The samples were then left to dry at room temperature. Samples were left for 10 min in warm (50–60 °C) solution of 5.5% sodium hydrochloride (NaClO) in a water bath [2]. After 10 minutes the solution was discarded and samples were ultrasonificated in SEASTAR™'s BASELINE® Water for 10 min in the same temperature range (50–60 °C). Samples were immersed in EDTA (Millipore Merck) for 1 min. To reach subsurface level of cleansing we immersed samples in isopropanol for 2 min. Samples were again submerged for 10 min in warm (50–60 °C) solution of 5.5% sodium hydrochloride, and ultrasonificated in SEASTAR™'s BASELINE® Water for 10 min. Before laser ablation analysis was performed, the enamel surface was cleaned with ethanol.
2.2. Analytical settings
Decontaminated materials were analysed in Nu plasma (II) MC-ICP-MS, equipped with ESI NWR193 ArF eximer based laser ablation system. Rodent Otomys specimen 26-r52 was used as a standard. Mass spectrometer settings: cooling gas flow rate: 13 L/min; aux gas flow rate: 0.84–0.89 L/min; low, mass resolution, common Ni cones, glass torch. Laser ablation adjustment: Ar flow rate (Mix Gas): 0.83–0.85; He flow rate 0.32L/min; preablation frequency: 10 Hz; preablation translation rate: 100 μm/s; preablation spotsize 150 μm; ablation frequency: 25 Hz; ablation translation rate: 5 μm/s; ablation spotsize 148 μm; line raster length 450–600 μm. Data collection: gas background 45 s; integration 0.5 s.
Corrections: 86Sr/88Sr factor calculated with accepted value of 0.1194 [6]. Fractionation: Kr subtracted by measuring gas blank (30 sec) before each measurement; Rb measured on mass 85, applied on mass 87 (fractionation corrected); 87Rb/85R assuming = 0.3861; Ca-Argides measured on mass 82, applied for masses 84, 86, 88; Yb-measured on mass 86.5 (173Yb2+) applied for masses 86, 87, 88; Er- measured on mass 83 (166Er2+) applied for masses 84, 85; Dy- measured on mass 81.5 (163Dy2+) applied for mass 82.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to express their gratitude to S.S. Tur (Altai State University, Russia) for her help during acquisition of skeletal materials. Isotopic analyses were financially supported by Stiftelsen Längmanska Kulturfonden (BA18-0950), Lars Hierta Foundation (FO2018-0049_1) in Sweden, and the ATLAS project. The isotopic analyses were performed at the Department of Archaeology Stockholm University, and at the Vegacenter, Natural History Museum in Stockholm. Special thanks go to Per Andersson, Viacheslav Kuleshov and Leo Sucharyna-Thomas for valuable comments and support.
Footnotes
Supplementary data to this article can be found online at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2019.105026.
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Appendix A. Supplementary data
The following is the Supplementary data to this article:
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