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EALING: A recent isotope analysis of the Bronze Age Egtved Girl, a mummy from 1370 B.C. that was uncovered in Denmark, revealed she was not actually born in the region.
A strontium isotope analyses of the ancient teenager’s teeth suggest she was born and raised outside of Denmark, and isotopes from her hair and thumb nail show she traveled a great distance over the last two years of her life, the University of Copenhagen reported.
Even isotopes in the wool from the ancient girl’s clothing, the blanket that was used to cover her after death, and the oak coffin she was laid to rest in, revelal the material originated outside of Denmark. The findings suggest the Egtved Girl and her belongings came from the “Black Forest” in South West Germany. A cremated six-year-old child who was buried along with the Egtved Girl is believed to have come from the same region.
Strontium is an element that exists in the Earth’s crust, and concentrations of it vary by geological location. Living creatures and plants absorb this element through food and water, allowing researchers to measure its prevalence and create a “map” of where the subject has been.
