Final answer:
Isotopes such as carbon-14, oxygen isotopes, and strontium isotopes in bones can reveal where a person lived by indicating the age of the bones, the local climate and water sources, and the geological characteristics of the region, respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three isotopes that can help determine where a person lives by analyzing their bones are carbon-14 (C-14), oxygen isotopes, and strontium isotopes.
Carbon-14 dating is a well-known method that can be used to measure the age of biological tissues up to 50,000 years.
It works on the principle that living organisms absorb a consistent rate of C-14 from the atmosphere, and once they die, the C-14 begins to decay at a known rate. By measuring the C-14 left in the bones, we can determine when the organism died.
Additionally, the ratios of different oxygen isotopes in the bones can indicate the climate and regional water sources of the person's environment.
Lastly, strontium isotopes reflect the geological composition of the area where a person lives, as these isotopes are absorbed by the body through food and water consumption. Analyzing the strontium isotopic ratios in bones can help trace the geological region where an individual resided.