Isotope Analysis

1. The following baseline were obtained from the strontium isotope dataset :
0.704588-0.704717 for the local base line ( from the rabbit samples )
0.706642-0.707778 for the foreign line (from Monte Alban samples )
The dataset follows a conspicuous trend with a slight variation between the two lines.
Thus, it can be concluded that there were almost equal numbers of immigrants as well
as locals in Teotihuacan. Even though, the ratio of immigrants to locals was slightly
higher in the Oaxaca Barrio and equal for the Oztoyahualco neighborhood, it cannot be
concluded that there were more immigrants. The following dataset supports the
aforementioned information and portrays this pattern.
Teotihuacan:
Oztoyahualco Human Tooth 0.7050885 Foreign
Teotihuacan:
Oztoyahualco Human Bone 0.7047958 Foreign
Teotihuacan:
Oztoyahualco Human Tooth 0.706704 Foreign
Teotihuacan:
Oztoyahualco Human Bone 0.705061 Foreign
Teotihuacan:
Oztoyahualco Human Tooth 0.704501 Local
Teotihuacan:
Oztoyahualco Human Bone 0.70459 Local
Teotihuacan:
Oztoyahualco Human Tooth 0.7046508 Local
Teotihuacan:
Oztoyahualco Human Bone 0.7046479 Local
Teotihuacan:
Oztoyahualco Human Tooth 0.7054281 Foreign
Teotihuacan:
Oztoyahualco Human Bone 0.704703 Local
Teotihuacan:
Oztoyahualco Human Tooth 0.704678 Local
Teotihuacan:
Oztoyahualco Human Bone 0.704961 Foreign
Teotihuacan:
Oaxaca barrio Human Tooth 0.704599 Local
Teotihuacan:
Oaxaca barrio Human Bone 0.704613 Local
Teotihuacan:
Oaxaca barrio Human Tooth 0.704633 Local
Teotihuacan:
Oaxaca barrio Human Bone 0.704626 Local
Teotihuacan:
Oaxaca barrio Human Tooth 0.705518 Foreign
Teotihuacan:
Oaxaca barrio Human Bone 0.704855 Foreign
Teotihuacan:
Oaxaca barrio Human Tooth 0.706542 Foreign
Teotihuacan:
Oaxaca barrio Human Bone 0.706989 Foreign
Teotihuacan:
Oaxaca barrio Human Tooth 0.707619 Foreign
Teotihuacan:
Oaxaca barrio Human Bone 0.704902 Foreign
Teotihuacan:
Oaxaca barrio Human Tooth 0.704633 Local
Teotihuacan:
Oaxaca barrio Human Bone 0.705629 Foreign


2. Analysing the aforementioned dataset might give us an intriguing insight into the the
lives of these ancient people. It must be noted that it encompasses the era right before
the rise of the Aztecs and so the presence of samples that resemble the characteristics of
individuals other than the locals is not surprising. It is highly unlikely that people from
other tribes coexisted during that age of barbarism. So, it is evident that the foreign
corpses were either slaves or "sacrificial lambs". War between the tribes might also
explain people from different tribes sharing the same resting place. So, the only relevant
reason that would contribute to people from different barrios sharing the same resting
place is conflict between tribes or invasion.
3. Once again, further evidence including the presence of pyramids and sacrificial altars
attest for the aforementioned statements. Since, at that time, pyramids were considered
a landmark and place of worship as well as sacrifice. And it also points to power
struggles between various tribes. I think analysis of the various tools and weapons in the
surrounding areas would provide ample evidence regarding the dynamics and nature of
the tribes. In addition, analysing Carbon and Nitrogen isotopes would shed light on the
diets of the local population and whether food source was a vital cause for immigration.
It can also be inferred that the depletion of food sources might have resulted in tribes
venturing out for basic commodities, ultimately resulting in war. Strontium and oxygen
isotopes in skeletal tissues can be used to study the geographical movements of the
populations and the reasons behind such occurrences( Mays, 288 ). DNA analysis would
also help infer the age and sex of the individuals and establish genetic relationships
between them as well as aspects of population history ( Mays, 309 ).