The most fascinating find recovered from the Bom Jesus was a collection of more than 100 elephant tusks. Professor Chirikure said the shipwreck cargo contained materials from different parts of the world - central European copper, German finance and African ivory - all destined for India. Studying the tusksProfessor Sealy said Chirikure approached her to discuss whether stable isotope analysis - analysis of the nonradioactive isotopes that occur naturally in all living organisms - might help to establish the origins of the shipwreck ivory. Coutu's PhD research covered isotopes in East African ivory, an "excellent" background for this project. The results from the shipwreck ivory demonstrate that the two species of African elephant have been sharing savanna habitats in West Africa for centuries.

Source: The North Africa Journal December 23, 2020 12:45 UTC