An African strontium map sheds light on the origins of enslaved people
Written by Black Hot Fire Network on May 15, 2025
A little-known element is shedding light on the transatlantic slave trade. Researchers have assembled a map of strontium, a naturally occurring element, across sub-Saharan Africa. These data can be compared with strontium levels measured in human remains to more precisely pin down the geographic origins of individuals sold into slavery, the team reported December 30 in Nature Communications.
From the 15th to the 19th centuries, more than 12 million Africans were sold into slavery 
