Abstract: Objective To evaluate the potential of stable isotope analysis for determining the geographic provenance of aged human remains, and to assess its effectiveness as a screening tool in forensic identification when prior information is limited. Methods Enamel samples from twelve aged human remains were analyzed for strontium isotopes (87Sr/86Sr) and stable carbon and oxygen isotopes (δ13C, δ18O). Geographic assignment was conducted using the assignR package by integrating isotopic data with global isoscapes to generate probabilistic provenance maps. Results The 87Sr/86Sr ratios of enamel samples ranged from 0.708 647 to 0.717 172, while δ13C and δ18O values indicated substantial inter-individual variation in diet and environmental conditions. Isotopic assignment effectively excluded incompatible regions and significantly narrowed the range of possible origins. Among the twelve individuals, eight showed concordance between isotopic predictions and known places of origin, demonstrating the method’s relatively high accuracy. Conclusion Multi-isotope analysis provides an effective approach for determining the geographic provenance of aged human remains, particularly in cases where DNA evidence is unavailable or limited. The reliability of isotopic assignments depends on the quality of isoscapes, individual life history, the preservation state of samples, and rigorous laboratory quality control. Future work should focus on improving baseline datasets, standardizing analytical protocols, and integrating multidisciplinary data to enhance the precision and applicability of isotope-based provenance methods.

Key words: strontium isotope, geographical provenance, tooth enamel, aged human skeletal remains

摘要： 目的 探讨稳定同位素分析在人类陈旧遗骸地理溯源中的应用潜力，评估其在缺乏完整身份信息条件下辅助法医学鉴定的有效性。方法 选取12例陈旧遗骸牙釉质样本，开展锶同位素（87Sr/86Sr）及碳、氧同位素（δ13C、δ18O）分析，并结合全球同位素景观图，利用assignR模型进行概率化地理分配。结果 牙釉质87Sr/86Sr为0.708 647~0.717 172，δ13C和δ18O显示个体间饮食结构和气候环境差异显著。同位素溯源结果能够有效排除不匹配区域，将潜在来源范围显著缩小。在12例样本中，有8例溯源结果与已知来源一致，表明该方法具有较高准确性。结论 多同位素联合分析是陈旧遗骸地理溯源的有效筛选工具，尤其适用于DNA信息缺失或受限的情境。其可靠性依赖于同位素景观图质量、个体生活史信息、样本保存状况及实验室质量控制水平。未来需通过构建标准化流程、优化基线数据和整合多学科信息，进一步提升溯源精度与应用价值。

关键词: 锶同位素, 地理溯源, 牙釉质, 人类陈旧遗骸