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Tracing the origins of St Helena's liberated Africans.

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Title: Tracing the origins of St Helena's liberated Africans.
Authors: Wang X; Center for Archaeological Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.; Anthropology Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA., Watson J; Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK., Bennett H; St Helena National Trust, Broadway House, Mainstreet, Jamestown, St Helena., Pearson A; Cotswold Archaeology, Kemble, UK., Nowell GM; Department of Earth Sciences, Durham University, Durham, UK., Peterkin J; Department of Earth Sciences, Durham University, Durham, UK., Brown KR; Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK., Pike A; Department of Archaeology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK., Laffoon J; Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands., Oelze VM; Anthropology Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA., Schroeder H; Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.; School of Archaeology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Source: Science (New York, N.Y.) [Science] 2026 Jul 16; Vol. 393 (6808), pp. eaeb3661. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jul 16.
Publication Type: Journal Article; Historical Article
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 0404511 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1095-9203 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00368075 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Science Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Publication: : Washington, DC : American Association for the Advancement of Science
Original Publication: New York, N.Y. : [s.n.] 1880-
MeSH Terms: Black People*/history , Black People*/genetics , Dental Enamel*/chemistry , Enslavement*/history, DNA, Ancient/analysis ; Strontium Isotopes/analysis ; Humans ; United Kingdom ; Atlantic Islands
Abstract: In the mid-19th century, St Helena became a key receiving point for Africans "liberated" from illegal slave ships by the British Royal Navy. Of the ~27,000 landed, ~8000 died soon after arrival and were buried locally. In connection with a broader community-led commemorative effort, we analyzed tooth enamel strontium isotope (87Sr/86Sr) data for 152 individuals, including high-resolution intratooth profiles, to identify likely origins and infer forced movements before embarkation. Isoscape-based probabilistic assignment, integrated with historical evidence and published ancient DNA data, constrains homelands ranging from coastal Central Africa to far inland areas, revealing long-distance movements, sometimes beginning in childhood. By refining provenance, these data informed local decisions about care and potential repatriation, highlighting the complexities of return and ultimately supporting reburial on St Helena.
Comments: Comment in: Science. 2026 Jul 16;393(6808):243-244. doi: 10.1126/science.aej4801.. (PMID: 42462042)
Substance Nomenclature: 0 (DNA, Ancient)
0 (Strontium Isotopes)
0 (Strontium-86)
0 (Strontium-87)
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20260716 Date Completed: 20260716 Latest Revision: 20260716
Update Code: 20260717
DOI: 10.1126/science.aeb3661
PMID: 42462007
Database: MEDLINE
FullText Text:
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PubType: Academic Journal
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  Data: Tracing the origins of St Helena's liberated Africans.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Wang+X%22">Wang X</searchLink>; Center for Archaeological Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.; Anthropology Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Watson+J%22">Watson J</searchLink>; Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Bennett+H%22">Bennett H</searchLink>; St Helena National Trust, Broadway House, Mainstreet, Jamestown, St Helena.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Pearson+A%22">Pearson A</searchLink>; Cotswold Archaeology, Kemble, UK.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Nowell+GM%22">Nowell GM</searchLink>; Department of Earth Sciences, Durham University, Durham, UK.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Peterkin+J%22">Peterkin J</searchLink>; Department of Earth Sciences, Durham University, Durham, UK.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Brown+KR%22">Brown KR</searchLink>; Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Pike+A%22">Pike A</searchLink>; Department of Archaeology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Laffoon+J%22">Laffoon J</searchLink>; Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Oelze+VM%22">Oelze VM</searchLink>; Anthropology Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Schroeder+H%22">Schroeder H</searchLink>; Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.; School of Archaeology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%220404511%22">Science (New York, N.Y.)</searchLink> [Science] 2026 Jul 16; Vol. 393 (6808), pp. eaeb3661. <i>Date of Electronic Publication: </i>2026 Jul 16.
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  Data: English
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  Data: <i>Publication</i>: <Oct. 4, 1991- > : Washington, DC : American Association for the Advancement of Science<br /><i>Original Publication</i>: New York, N.Y. : [s.n.] 1880-
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Black+People%22">Black People*</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Black+People+history%22">history</searchLink> <br /><searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Black+People%22">Black People*</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Black+People+genetics%22">genetics</searchLink> <br /><searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Dental+Enamel%22">Dental Enamel*</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Dental+Enamel+chemistry%22">chemistry</searchLink> <br /><searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Enslavement%22">Enslavement*</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Enslavement+history%22">history</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22DNA%2C+Ancient%22">DNA, Ancient</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22DNA%2C+Ancient+analysis%22">analysis</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Strontium+Isotopes%22">Strontium Isotopes</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Strontium+Isotopes+analysis%22">analysis</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Humans%22">Humans</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22United+Kingdom%22">United Kingdom</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Atlantic+Islands%22">Atlantic Islands</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: In the mid-19th century, St Helena became a key receiving point for Africans "liberated" from illegal slave ships by the British Royal Navy. Of the ~27,000 landed, ~8000 died soon after arrival and were buried locally. In connection with a broader community-led commemorative effort, we analyzed tooth enamel strontium isotope (<superscript>87</superscript>Sr/<superscript>86</superscript>Sr) data for 152 individuals, including high-resolution intratooth profiles, to identify likely origins and infer forced movements before embarkation. Isoscape-based probabilistic assignment, integrated with historical evidence and published ancient DNA data, constrains homelands ranging from coastal Central Africa to far inland areas, revealing long-distance movements, sometimes beginning in childhood. By refining provenance, these data informed local decisions about care and potential repatriation, highlighting the complexities of return and ultimately supporting reburial on St Helena.
– Name: Comment
  Label: Comments
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  Data: Comment in: Science. 2026 Jul 16;393(6808):243-244. doi: 10.1126/science.aej4801.. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2242462042%22">42462042)</searchLink>
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