American Journal of Physical Anthropology
HINTS OF DIASPORA
Archaeologists found the remains
of at least 180 people – European,
Indian and African – near the
ruins of a colonial church in
Campeche, Mexico.
Posted on 01/31/2006 3:29:26 AM PST by Pharmboy
American Journal of Physical Anthropology
HINTS OF DIASPORA
Archaeologists found the remains
of at least 180 people – European,
Indian and African – near the
ruins of a colonial church in
Campeche, Mexico.
While remodeling the central plaza in Campeche, a Mexican port city that dates back to colonial times, a construction crew stumbled on the ruins of an old church and its burial grounds. Researchers who were called in discovered the skeletal remains of at least 180 people, and four of those studied so far bear telling chemical traces that are in effect birth certificates.
The particular mix of strontium in the teeth of the four, the researchers concluded, showed that they were born and spent their early years in West Africa. Some of their teeth were filed and chipped to sharp edges in a decorative practice characteristic of Africa.
Because other evidence indicated that the cemetery was in use starting around 1550, the archaeologists believe they have found the earliest remains of African slaves brought to the New World.
In a report to be published in The American Journal of Physical Anthropology, the archaeology team led by T. Douglas Price of the University of Wisconsin concluded, "Thus these individuals are likely to be among the earliest representatives of the African diaspora in the Americas, substantially earlier than the subsequent, intensive slave trade in the 18th century."
Dr. Price said last week that a more precise dating would be attempted soon with radiocarbon analysis of the excavated bones. Maps and other records of Campeche, on the Yucatán Peninsula, indicate that the burial ground was used from the mid-16th century into the 17th. A pre-1550 medallion was found in a grave.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
GGG ping...
"The particular mix of strontium in the teeth of the four, the researchers concluded, showed that they were born and spent their early years in West Africa."
How do they know that they spent their early years in Africa? They could have already been here and filed their teeth here.
I wonder what role the muslim slave traders played in this tragedy.
Was there rich and famous theater actors back then who worshipped the slave traders and said "slavery works" and condemned and protested the abolitionists?
Was there evidence in the rest of the article that confirmed the "slave" status of the Africans?
(Though I don't doubt that that was the case, it is a major assumption without evidence.)
"In this case, the ratios of the isotopes strontium 87 and strontium 86 were consistent with those in the teeth and bones of people who were born and grew up in West Africa. A comparison with strontium measurements of people born in Mesoamerica showed no similarities with the four specimens."
Filed teeth was a characteristic of West African born youth, not central American people.
Could have been back in Africa, but here they identified Portuguese.
Strontium isotopes in human teeth and bones as a monitor of mobility
Direct evidence of human residential mobility has been difficult to obtain in prehistory. Archaeologists have generally used artifact styles as a proxy for people to investigate population movement. We approach this problem by comparing strontium isotope ratios in human bones and in teeth . Dental enamel forms during early childhood and retains Sr isotopes from the local geology at that time, while bone, which is chemically remodeled, assimilates Sr isotopes reflecting residence during the last years of one's life. Thus differences in strontium isotope ratios between bone and tooth enamel reveal movement during the life of the individual. Strontium isotope ratios in teeth that do not match those of the local geology should indicate immigrants to a site...
You can get the rest from the link if you like :)
No--nothing specific, although at that time, essentially all Africans in MesoAmerica were slaves, the article seems to imply. And, they were brought in significant numbers.
Yes. John Wilkes Booth comes to mind!
lol! You see, even back then they hated Republicans! Something I`ll never understand is why blacks vote mainly Hollywood democrat... Here you got the first Republican President who freed the slaves and along comes Johnny Hollywood who wacks him...Just curious if John Booth was a democ-rat.
One thing is for sure, if they did have a role it will never, ever become common knowledge. Particularly since slavery is still an industry in Africa care of Muslims....
Yes, in fact he was. Most Secessionists were democrats before secession.
Oh, I checked your home page! Awesome, dude! Keep up the good work, and WELCOME to Ree Republic!
Being there was a meteor or asteroid impact in that very region of Mexico, seems to me there would be a higher concentration of these isotopes. This might skew the results of the tests.
Strontium is a trace element whose concentrations vary with respect to geographic location. The amount of strontium in Mexico is different than in Africa. While your teeth are developing, traces of strontium are included. The concentration in teeth parallels the concentration in the environment where the teeth developed. The African skeletons found in Mexico had strontium concentrations similar to those found in people from sub Saharan Africa, not from Mexico. This is fairly conclusive proof these people were born and grew up in Africa.
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