Ricerc@Sapienza

Drinking water is scarce in Djibouti because of the hot desert climate. Moreover, seawater intrusion or fossil saltwater contamination of the limited number of freshwater aquifers due to groundwater overexploitation affect those who live close to the coastline (~ 80% of the population). Despite this, the geothermal potential of the country's plentiful hot springs could resolve the increasing electricity demand. Strontium isotopes (87Sr/86Sr) are routinely used to determine sources and mixing relationships in geochemical studies.

Following a mid twelfth-century BC demographic crisis, Frattesina, in northern Italy,arose as a prominent hub linking continental Europe and the Mediterranean, as evidenced by the remarkable variety of exotic materials and commodities discovered at the site. Debate persists, however, about the extent to which migrants influenced the foundation and devel- opment of Frattesina. The authors present the results of strontium isotope analyses, which suggest significant migration to the site, par- ticularly of elites, mostly from within a 50km radius.