216 Chapter 6 Isotopic and Elemental Chemistry of Teeth: Implications for Places of Birth, Forced Migration Patterns, Nutritional Status, and Pollution A. Goodman, J. Jones, J. Reid, M. Mack, M. L. Blakey, D. Amarasiriwardena, P. Burton, and D. Coleman Introduction Concerns about individual and group origins are central to the study of the New York African Burial Ground (NYABG). A key goal of the project is to provide scientific insights into the geographic origins of individuals. Enslaved Africans came from different regions of Africa. Can we determine more precisely the geographic area where individuals and groups come from and what were their ethnic affinities? At what ages were enslaved individuals forced to involuntarily leave their homelands? Which individuals came to New York via the Caribbean or some other destination in North America? Who was first generation enslaved, and who was born into slavery? Although origin questions are central to this project, providing insights into origins is difficult. To date, few methods provide clear answers. Historical documents such as slave ship manifests and auctions provide an overall and indispensable source of information on geographic origins, ethnicities, demographic patterns, and even names (e.g., see Gomez 1998; Hall 1992; Lovejoy 1997, 2003). However, there is no method we are aware of that can link these historical records to individual burials. Archaeological information such as artifacts and burial position may suggest an individual’s natal home (geographic place of birth), possible ethnic affinity, or status within an enslaved community (Corruccini et al, 1987a; Handler 1997; Samford 1994).