The New Kingdom population on Sai island: application of Sr isotopes to investigate cultural entanglement in ancient Nubia

Sr isotopes were applied to identify possible
allochthony of skeletal remains retrieved
from Tomb 26 of the pharaonic cemetery SAC5 on
Sai Island (Nubia). Tooth enamel of nine individuals,
including the Overseer of Goldsmiths Khummose
and his presumed ‘wife’, dating from the New
Kingdom, were investigated to gain information
whether these individuals were first generation
immigrants from Egypt (= allochthonous) or members
of the local population inhabiting the area of
Sai Island (= autochthonous). The interpretation of
supposed allochthony and autochthony was based
on the comparison of the Sr of human enamel to an
assumed autochthonous Sr isotopic composition.
The autochthonous Sr signal on Sai Island during
the New Kingdom was derived from archaeological
animal samples (rodent, sheep/goat, dog and
local mollusc shells dating from the New Kingdom)
in combination with local environmental samples
(paleo sediments dating from the New Kingdom
and literature Sr isotope value of Nile River water
for the New Kingdom era). As the Sr values in
enamel of all individuals investigated lay within
the determined autochthonous Sr range on Sai
Island during the New Kingdom, all individuals
were classified as supposed members of the local
population on Sai Island.