Article

IsoArcH.eu: An open-access and collaborative isotope database for bioarchaeological samples from the Graeco-Roman world and its margins

Authors:
To read the full-text of this research, you can request a copy directly from the authors.

Abstract

This paper describes IsoArcH, a new web-based database of isotopic data for bioarchaeological samples from the Graeco-Roman world and its margins. IsoArcH was designed as a cooperative platform for the dissemination of isotopic data and associated archaeological information. IsoArcH follows the open access model and is freely accessible online (http://www.isoarch.eu). Created for paleodietary, paleomobility and paleoenvironmental reconstruction research purposes, IsoArcH compiled to this day published isotopic data for human, animal, and plant remains, as well as organic residues, from nearly 300 sites. All data have been georeferenced allowing for their display on ancient world maps and placement into their contemporaneous geopolitical background. In this paper, several data-driven examples are shown to illustrate the research potential offered by IsoArcH.

No full-text available

Request Full-text Paper PDF

To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the authors.

... The isotopic values of herbivores found in this study agree with data reported in Salesse et al. 2018 where they found δ 13 C VPDB = -21.1 ± 1.0 ‰ and δ 15 N AIR = + 4.3 ± 1.7 ‰ for herbivores from Roman Italy from Iron Age to Late Antiquity. Pigs are in principle omnivores and, although their isotopic signature may be affected by food of non-plant origin, they resulted not easily distinguishable from herbivores (see Table 5 and Table 6). ...
... ± 0.9 ‰ and δ 15 N = 3.7 ± 1.6 ‰ for wheat (triticum aestivum/durum) (Vignola et al. 2017;Gismondi et al. 2020). Similar values were also obtained in other ancient sites in Roman Italy (Salesse et al. 2018). Notably, no significant difference in isotopic composition was observed between wheat and barley. ...
... Although the isotopic composition can be affected by climatic and agronomic conditions, these archaeobotanical Bourbou et al. 2011;Gismondi et al. 2020;Varano et al. 2020;Viva et al. 2021;Fisher et al. 2007;Riccomi et al. 2020 Pig -20.6 (0.8) 5.5 (1.2) 29 Bourbou et al. 2011;Gismondi et al. 2020;Varano et al. 2020;Viva et al. 2021;Riccomi et al. 2020 Cervid -21.7 (1.0) 4.4 (0.9) 13 Bourbou et al. 2011;Gismondi et al. 2020;Fisher et al. 2007;Riccomi et al. 2020 Equine -20.4 Bourbou et al. 2011;Gismondi et al. 2020;Varano et al. 2020;Viva et al. 2021;Fisher et al. 2007;Riccomi et al. 2020 Euryhaline Fish -11.1 (2.3) 8.1 (2.5) 16 Vika and Theodoropoulou 2012;Gismondi et al. 2020 Seafood -18.0 (1.5) 11.6 (0.6) 5 Garvie-Lok 2001; Moles et al. 2022;Wells et al. 2021;Nardoto et al. 2006 values were consistent with similar studies on modern cereals in Europe (Heaton et al. 2009). The comparison between crops from different times (Middle age (Vignola et al. 2017), Bronze age (Gismondi et al. 2020;Heaton et al. 2009) and modern) and different sites (Italy (Vignola et al. 2017, Salesse et al. 2018, Greece (Heaton et al. 2009) and Turkey (Gismondi et al. 2020)), demonstrates that the variability of stable isotopes in C3 plants is quite sharp. Therefore, we will assume that C3-plants (wheat and barley, in particular) in the ancient St. Mauro had the same stable isotopic signature as ancient cereals found in Italy (i.e. ...
Article
Full-text available
The paleodiet evolution in a human community of Venetian Lagoon between the eighth and twelfth centuries has been reconstructed by the stable isotopes analysis of δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N found in collagen of teeth and bones from St. Mauro archaeological site (Jesolo, Venice). A total of 52 individuals of various ages, sex, chronologies, and pathological condition were included in this study. Our findings revealed the presence of two distinct dietary patterns influenced only by chronology. We observed that a more fish-based diet (30–60% of the overall diet) prevailed between the eighth and tenth centuries. However, between the tenth and twelfth centuries, fish consumption decreased (10–30% of the overall diet), and there was a shift towards a diet rich in terrestrial protein sources. We link this change in dietary habits to economic development also evidenced by the transformations of the site and increased trade with the hinterland. Furthermore, it was observed significantly higher δ¹⁵N values in individuals from 8th-10th compared to those from tenth-twelfth centuries. We proposed two potential explanations: a shift in child-rearing practices, such as delayed weaning during early middle age compared to late middle age, or a change in diet of breast feeders.
... Isocarb isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS) at McMaster Research for Stable Isotopologues (MRSI), and 87 Sr/ 86 Sr was measured by dynamic multi-collection using a thermal ionization mass spectrometer (TIMS) in the School of Geography and Earth Sciences. The dental enamel isotope data presented represent the first δ 18 O, δ 13 C carbonate , and 87 Sr/ 86 Sr values analysed from Imperial Roman Campania to date, providing data of use for comparative analyses of δ 18 O, δ 13 Table Subject Archaeology Specific subject area Isotope analyses Type of data Table Figure Graph How data were acquired Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR); VG OPTIMA Isocarb isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS); thermal ionization mass spectrometer (TIMS) Data format Raw Analysed Parameters for data collection Permanent second molars (M2) were selected (n = 20) from an equal number of male (n = 10) and female (n = 10) individuals, providing a sex balanced sample. Permanent second molars were chosen as a control for age, based on crown development of the permanent second molar being complete by ca. ...
... Description of data collection Utilizing Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), crystallinity index (CI) values for a subsample of individuals (n = 5) were calculated to assess apatite preservation at Velia [4] . Ground enamel samples were then prepared for δ 13 ...
... The δ 13 C values of the 20 individuals analysed fall within a relatively narrow range, spanning from −13.6 ‰ (Velia 205) to −11.5 ‰ (Velia 160). Considering these δ 13 ...
Article
Full-text available
The oxygen (δ¹⁸Ocarbonate), strontium (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr), and previously unpublished carbon (δ¹³Ccarbonate) isotope data presented herein from the Imperial Roman site of Velia (ca. 1st to 2nd c. CE) were obtained from the dental enamel of human permanent second molars (M2). In total, the permanent M2s of 20 individuals (10 male and 10 female) were sampled at the Museo delle Civiltà in Rome (formerly the Museo Nazionale Preistorico Etnografico “L. Pigorini”) and were subsequently processed and analysed at McMaster University. A subsample of teeth (n=5) was initially subjected to Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis to assess for diagenetic alteration through calculation of crystallinity index (CI) values. Subsequently, tooth enamel was analysed for δ¹³Ccarbonate and δ¹⁸Ocarbonate (VPDB) using a VG OPTIMA Isocarb isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS) at McMaster Research for Stable Isotopologues (MRSI), and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr was measured by dynamic multi-collection using a thermal ionization mass spectrometer (TIMS) in the School of Geography and Earth Sciences. The dental enamel isotope data presented represent the first δ¹⁸O, δ¹³Ccarbonate, and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values analysed from Imperial Roman Campania to date, providing data of use for comparative analyses of δ¹⁸O, δ¹³C, and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values within the region and for assisting in documenting human mobility in archaeological contexts. Full interpretation of the δ¹⁸O and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr data presented here is provided in “Imperial Roman mobility and migration at Velia (1st to 2nd c. CE) in southern Italy” [1].
... Isotopes are now employed in a variety of archaeological research questions, including the study of subsistence practices, spatial mobility, infant feeding strategies, and human-environment interactions . This research potential has led to an exponentially increase of isotopic applications, and to recent efforts towards 'Big Isotopic Data' initiatives [50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59]. This novel approach operates at varying degrees of spatiotemporal resolution and has the potential to offer multilayered insights into past human and environmental phenomena [52,[60][61][62]. ...
... We present Isotòpia [63], an open-access database that compiles stable carbon (δ 13 C), nitrogen (δ 15 N), oxygen (δ 18 O), and sulphur (δ 34 S) isotope data, along with radiogenic strontium ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) and lead ( 206 Pb/ 204 Pb, 207 Pb/ 204 Pb, 208 Pb/ 204 Pb, 207 Pb/ 206 Pb, and 208 Pb/ 206 Pb) ratio measurements from human, animal, and plant remains dating to Classical Antiquity. Although previous compilations have partially aggregated isotopic data for the same period and/or region [51,64], these have followed diverse aims and collection criteria. Isotòpia contains metadata descriptors (environmental conditions, polity assignment, cultural categories) which are particularly relevant for the study of Classical Antiquity and absent in previous compilations. ...
Article
Full-text available
We present Isotòpia, an open-access database compiling over 36,000 stable isotope measurements (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, δ¹⁸O, δ³⁴S, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb, and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁶Pb) on human, animal, and plant bioarchaeological remains dating to Classical Antiquity (approximately 800 BCE ‐ 500 CE). These were recovered from different European regions, particularly from the Mediterranean. Isotòpia provides a comprehensive characterisation of the isotopic data, encompassing various historical, archaeological, biological, and environmental variables. Isotòpia is a resource for meta-analytical research of past human activities and paleoenvironments. The database highlights data gaps in isotopic classical archaeology, such as the limited number of isotopic measurements available for plants and animals, limited number of studies on spatial mobility, and spatial heterogeneity of isotopic research. As such, we emphasise the necessity to address and fill these gaps in order to unlock the reuse potential of this database.
... The saponified type is not shown, given insufficient data points (n = 7) for LOESS regression. (c) Ten types of human remains (n = 13 407) in the IsoArcH repository [7] royalsocietypublishing.org/journal/rspb Proc. R. Soc. ...
... To evaluate the abundance of preserved human brains relative to other bioarchaeological remains, we compared their occurrence with that of preserved human soft tissues reported in searchable databases. Internal soft tissues (representing muscle and gut only) comprise just 0.3% (n = 43/13 407) of human bioarchaeological samples in the IsoArcH repository [7] (figure 1c), which documents more than 400 archaeological sites across Europe and the Middle East from the Mesolithic (~9000 y BP) to the 20th century AD. By contrast, the number of preserved brains identified in the literature during the same time period is markedly higher (n = 3862), and far exceeds the number of heavily mineralized tissues represented in the repository (e.g. ...
Article
Full-text available
The brain is thought to be among the first human organs to decompose after death. The discovery of brains preserved in the archaeological record is therefore regarded as unusual. Although mechanisms such as dehydration, freezing, saponification, and tanning are known to allow for the preservation of the brain on short time scales in association with other soft tissues (≲4000 years), discoveries of older brains, especially in the absence of other soft tissues, are rare. Here, we collated an archive of more than 4400 human brains preserved in the archaeological record across approximately 12 000 years, more than 1300 of which constitute the only soft tissue preserved amongst otherwise skeletonized remains. We found that brains of this type persist on time scales exceeding those preserved by other means, which suggests an unknown mechanism may be responsible for preservation particular to the central nervous system. The untapped archive of preserved ancient brains represents an opportunity for bioarchaeological studies of human evolution, health and disease.
... Therefore, these individuals were included and analyzed as acceptable entries throughout this manuscript. The compiled datasets are available at the IsoArcH repository (Salesse et al., 2018;Plomp et al., 2022) with the digital object identifiers 10.48530/isoarch. 2021.006 ...
... Studies using sulfur isotopes, which is an indicator of marine contribution, also suggested the importance of marine fertilizer for crops in premodern mainland Japan (Tsutaya et al., 2016a). Furthermore, some studies suggested that denitrification in the paddy rice field (Mariotti et al., 1988;Xing et al., 2002) is another possible cause of higher δ 15 N values seen (Plomp et al., 2022;Salesse et al., 2018). in premodern human skeletons in Japan (Tsutaya et al., 2019). In aerobic conditions at surface water depth, organic nitrogen sources (e.g. ...
Article
The development of the modern industrialized food production system has resulted in a homogeneous human diet worldwide. However, it is not clear whether a developed food production system led to a homogenized human diet also in ancient societies. Due to the lack of large archaeological datasets, we know little about the chronological trends and ancient circumstances of dietary homogenization. Here we compiled carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios, indicators of palaeodiet, of adult human skeletons from premodern mainland Japan (AD 1603–1868, n = 318) to investigate chronological changes in diet. Comparison with datasets from Japan in modern, premodern (Edo), and foraging (Jomon) periods showed that the human diet was rapidly homogenized isotopically in modern times. Premodern people in Japan typically obtained dietary proteins from C3 crops and fish, and the establishment of agriculture created a new isotope dietary niche compared with the foraging period. Dominant protein contributions from agricultural C3 crops cultivated with organic fertilizers and/or rice that are grown in paddy fields with denitrification increased premodern human nitrogen isotope ratios without increasing their carbon isotope ratios. Diet differed according to the social status of individuals or the availability of foods, and a unique diet can be seen in people in higher social classes such as the Shogun family. Meta-analysis of stable isotope ratios of archaeological human skeletons enables a comprehensive understanding of human dietary change through time and regional variations.
... Considering the historical premise of early imperial army recruits originating from the Italian peninsula, isotope analysis can be used to help distinguish between potential colonists and other migrants unaffiliated with the veteran contingent. Since the non-local Sr signatures from Beirut fall within the range of BASr values of the Italian peninsula (Salesse et al. 2018;Nikita et al. 2022), an Italian provenance may not be excluded for Skeletons 1420 and 2469. The δ 18 O dw of Skeleton 1420 also corresponds to large areas of coastal Italy and does not add any discriminative information. ...
... The δ 18 O dw of Skeleton 1420 also corresponds to large areas of coastal Italy and does not add any discriminative information. The δ 18 O dw of the two potential migrants whose Sr signatures matched local Beirut values, as well as values from regions within Italy, do not exclude an Italian or a Mediterranean origin either (Salesse et al. 2018; https://wateriso.utah.edu/waterisotopes/p ages/data_access/figures.html). ...
Article
Rescue excavations in Beirut, Lebanon, have uncovered large burial assemblages dating to the Roman period. As the first Roman colony in the Near East, the human skeletons from Beirut provide a unique opportunity to explore migration to the city using biomolecular analyses. This study applies strontium and oxygen isotope analysis to nineteen human skeletons and establishes primary local reference values through the analysis of human and faunal dentition and the utilisation of already available environmental and botanical data from Lebanon. Two possible incomers and two definite migrants – both male and female – were identified who originated from different parts of the Empire. The comparison of isotopic data with the material culture of the graves illustrates how migrant identity is not always expressed in burial, and also how archaeological data can supplement biomolecular results in identifying the type of migration involved in a colonial setting. The results from this study contribute to our understanding of the Roman colonization of Beirut, highlight female mobility during the Roman period, and establish local human isotope ratios which can be used in future research on migration to the city and in the region.
... Plomp (2021a) provided a detailed description of the dataset in the article (Plomp 2021b), with links to the dataset on a disciplinary specific data repository, IsoArcH (Salesse et al. 2018), and R scripts used in data analysis are publicly available on GitHub/Zenodo. The dataset on IsoArcH is available in .xlsx ...
... platform and IsoArcH database (https://isoarch.eu, Salesse et al. 2018). The Peer Community in Archaeology are openly reviewing and recommending preprints therefore increasing the transparency of quality control processes. ...
Article
Full-text available
Reproducible research is being implemented at different speeds in different disciplines, and Archaeology is at the start of this journey. Reproducibility is the practice of reanalysing data by taking the same steps and producing the same or similar results. Enabling reproducibility is an important step to ensure research quality and validate interpretations. There are currently many barriers to moving towards reproducible research such as the skill level of researchers in the practices, software and infrastructure needed to do reproducible research and concerns relating to opening up research such as how to share sensitive data. In this article, we seek to introduce reproducible research in an understandable manner so that archaeologists can learn where and how to start improving the reproducibility of their research. We describe what reproducible archaeological research can look like and propose three different computational skill levels of reproducible workflows with examples. Finally, in an extensive appendix, we address common questions about reproducible research to remove the stigma about these issues and suggest ways to overcome them.
... isoarch.eu: Salesse et al., 2017Salesse et al., , 2018. A query was executed to retrieve all uploaded human enamel δ 13 C PDB and δ 18 O PDB data from Europe (December 2021). ...
... The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in IsoArcH (www.isoarch.eu; Salesse et al., 2018). ...
Article
Full-text available
The intention of the Roman administration to develop the Lower Germanic limes region into a military zone must have been a catalyst for (long-distance) human and faunal mobility in the course of the 1st century CE. A triple isotope approach (Sr-O-C) has been used on a total of 21 cremations (bone and pars petrosa) and 21 inhumations (dental elements) from the Dutch Lower Germanic limes borderscape region to study the demographic dynamics between 150 and 500 CE. The dental enamel ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr range from 0.7086 to 0.7158. The variability in Sr within the cremated remains is more limited: 0.7089 to 0.7103. The δ¹⁸OPDB data range from −7.6 ‰ to −4.3 ‰. All but one individual dating to the Early and Middle Roman period exhibit Sr ratios that are consistent with the expected local (0.7088–0.7092) or regional (up to ± 0.7110) ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr signature. The population dynamics drastically change in the subsequent Late Roman period. Fifty percent (6/12) of the investigated Late Roman population (partially) spent part of their childhood away from the Dutch river system or even the Batavian civitas. The cremated long bone ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr possibly point towards residential stability during the last few years of life: all data are compatible with the expected regional Sr signature. The δ¹³CPDB data vary between −16.0 ‰ and −8.7 ‰: the latter was indicative of a diet rich in C4 food, which was not a staple in the Roman diet in the Lower Germanic limes region. Although more research is essential to better understand the population dynamics in the limes borderscape, it is clear that the isotope data reflect the political-military status of the Lower Germanic limes region, especially during the transition to a militarized zone in the later Roman period. Identifying possible regions of provenance is a challenge. Another proxy for provenance, namely the cultural artefacts associated with the excavated people, did not show a specific relationship between cultural background and geographical origin.
... • The dataset presents all published incremental isotopic measurements from archaeological faunal remains (n = 152) from the UK. It highlights the growing importance of such type of analyses and represents the first collection of measurements from incrementally sampled enamel and dentine introduced in the IsoArcH database [5] . • This dataset is of value to archaeologists and ecologists that are investigating incremental isotope sampling methodologies, climate [6] , ethology [7,8] , and past animal-human interactions [9,10] . ...
... Fifty-nine of the data points are from dentine collagen, and present stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios ( δ 13 Table 1 summarises the included archaeological sites; faunal species, number of individuals analysed, and the dentine or enamel sampling methodology. (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20) reference Site IDs, given in detail in Table 1 . Table 1 Summary of site IDs, site names and locations, references, time periods, species and number of specimens incrementally analysed, and if the dentine and/or enamel was sampled. ...
Article
Full-text available
This paper collates previously published data from incremental isotopic studies performed on faunal remains found within the modern boundaries of the United Kingdom (UK). The dataset represents a complete collection of zooarchaeological incremental data from the UK, consisting of 1,092 data points, obtained from 152 faunal specimens from 20 archaeological sites, dating from 7960 BC to AD 1300. 59 of these values are from incrementally sampled dentine and present stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N). The remaining 1,053 values are from incrementally sampled enamel, and present strontium (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, n= 193), and/or stable carbon and oxygen isotope ratios (δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O, n= 860). This dataset is a convenient resource for future researchers, enabling comparisons based on faunal species, time, and geographical location. Further, the dataset acts as a mechanism for researchers to investigate the variety of incremental sampling methodologies (enamel and dentine) which have been applied to faunal remains across the United Kingdom. For ease of access, this dataset has been deposited on the open-access platform IsoArcH (https://isoarch.eu/).
... • The dataset presents all currently published 87 Sr/ 86 Sr measurements from archaeological calcined remains (n = 811) in Europe. It highlights the growing importance of such type of analyses and represents a unique batch of measurements in calcined bone introduced in the IsoArcH database (Salesse et al., 2017). • This dataset is of value to archaeologists investigating mobility in prehistoric and historical European contexts. ...
... ). The dataset is referenced in IsoArcH [1] under the following DOI: 10.48530/isoarch.2021.016 . ...
Article
Full-text available
Cremated human remains are commonly found in the archaeological records, especially in Europe during the Metal Ages and the Roman period. Due to the high temperatures reached during cremation (up to 1000°C), most biological information locked in the isotopic composition of different tissues is heavily altered or even destroyed. The recent demonstration that strontium isotope ratio (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) remained unaltered during cremation and was even very resistant to post-burial alterations (which is not the case of unburned bone), opened new possibility for palaeomobility studies of ancient populations that practices cremations as a funerary ritual. This paper summarizes the strontium isotopic data produced over the last decade which is then deposited on the open-access platform IsoArcH (https://isoarch.eu/) for any interested parties to use. It is the first time isotopic data on cremated remains is introduced in this database, significantly extending its impact on the scientific community.
... can be found in the online IsoArcH repository (https://isoarch.eu/; IsoArcH, 2024; Salesse et al., 2018;Plomp et al., 2022). The data is available under the Creative Commons BY 4.0 license. ...
Article
Full-text available
Understanding the spatial distribution of strontium isotopes in plants or other archives within a region is crucial for various fields, including archaeology, environmental studies, food sciences and forensic science. This study aims to create a detailed dynamic strontium isoscape for Belgium through high-density plant sampling, presented in a web application (IsoBel) that serves the mentioned research fields. A total of 540 plant samples (199 locations), representing various species of grass, shrubs, and trees across Belgium were collected and were analysed for their strontium isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) to create a first biologically available strontium map. Sampling sites were selected to cover diverse lithological formations and soil types, ensuring representative coverage of the region's geological heterogeneity, by using a novel high density grid mapping method. Sixty-four previously published plants from 21 locations are also included in this study, bringing the total amount of plant samples used to 604 from 220 locations. The results reveal significant variations in 87Sr/86Sr across Belgium (ranging from 0.7054 to 0.7259), which reflect the underlying lithology and geological processes (tectonics, weathering, …) which shaped the landscape. Although overlapping 87Sr/86Sr is seen across the majority of lithologies, there is a statistically significant difference between the distribution of 87 Sr/ 86 Sr values across all different lithological units in Belgium (Kruskal-Wallis test; p < 0.0001). Distinct regional patterns were observed, with higher 87Sr/86Sr in the older geological southeastern part of Belgium, compared to the younger northwestern parts. The high-density plant sampling approach employed in this study allowed for enhanced spatial resolution and improved accuracy in the predictive surfaces for bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr created by Empirical Bayesian Kriging (EBK). These findings provide valuable insights into the geographic distribution of strontium isotopes within Belgium and offer a foundation for future studies in archaeology, ecology, environmental studies, food sciences and forensics. Furthermore, the extensive coverage of various plant species provided a robust representation of the local ecosystems and their strontium sources. Overall, this study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on regional strontium isoscapes, enhancing our understanding of the complex interplay between litho-and biosphere in shaping the strontium isotope compositions of ecosystems.
... IsoArcH Data repository focusing on archeologically-derived isotopic data, with an associated nonprofit academic association (Plomp et al., 2022;Salesse et al., 2018) IsoBank Data repository gathering isotopic data from any context (ecological, experimental, archeological) (Pauli et al., 2015) Bitacora Database with modern human teeth and keratin isotope values (Valenzuela et al., 2023) Archipelago Database of carbon and nitrogen stable isotope values of humans from Japan Amalthea Collection of human tooth increment isotopic data (Cocozza & Fernandes, 2021) STANTIS ET AL. 9 of 17 sharing may arise both between and within communities; the particulars will differ on a case-by-case basis, requiring researchers to build relationships of trust and ensure continued open communication. ...
Article
Full-text available
This synthesis explores specific ethical questions that commonly arise in isotopic analysis. For more than four decades, isotope analysis has been employed in archeological studies to explore past human and animal dietary habits, mobility patterns, and the environment in which a human or animal inhabited during life. These analyses require consideration of ethical issues. While theoretical concepts are discussed, we focus on practical aspects: working with descendant communities and other rights holders, choosing methods, creating and sharing data, and working mindfully within academia. These layers of respect and care should surround our science. This paper is relevant for specialists in isotope analysis as well as those incorporating these methods into larger projects. By covering the whole of the research process, from design to output management, we appeal broadly to archaeology and provide actionable solutions that build on the discussions in the general field.
... Other areas of bioarchaeology have benefitted from the production of online datasets (e.g., IsoArcH.eu (Salesse et al., 2018) for archaeological isotope data). However, palaeopathology may be too expansive a field for a similar system to be implemented, though smaller scale databases focusing on singular pathologies do exist (e.g., Cancer Research in Ancient Bodies (CRAB) Database (Hunt et al., 2017)). ...
Article
Full-text available
Objective This study reviews the palaeopathological literature discussing maxillary sinusitis to examine current trends and issues within the study of this condition, and to make recommendations for future research in this area. Materials Seventy-five studies were identified through a literature search of digital and physical sources. Methods Information regarding study metadata, the populations investigated, sinusitis diagnostic criteria, and sinusitis prevalence was examined. Results Populations from the UK and Europe were the most studied, reflecting both palaeopathology’s systemic colonialism and academic legacies. Most studies used diagnostic criteria published in the mid‐1990s, with some subsequent studies modifying these criteria. Conclusions The diagnostic criteria from 1995 are widely used but do not include all possible bone changes seen within sinusitis. There is also a need for researchers to engage in issues of data reductionism when using descriptive categories for archaeological sites and populations. Significance This paper provides considerations as to how the 1995 diagnostic criteria may be revised by future researchers and synthesises much of the published sinusitis prevalence data to assist researchers interested in the palaeopathology of respiratory disease. Limitations More general osteological research, which includes palaeopathological information, was likely missed from this review due to the choice of key terms and languages used in the literature search. Suggestions for Further Research Additional research into sinusitis in archaeological populations outside of Western Europe is required. Further work examining the ability to compare pathological data from macroscopic observation and medical imaging would be advantageous to palaeopathology as a whole.
... Alternatively, they can be explored to evaluate diagenetic alterations of the archaeological material relative to its chronology or geography. Recently, several datasets containing isotopic data from different time periods and geographical locations have been published, and the relevance and potential of this approach have been proven [24][25][26][27][28][29] . Following, we provide examples to demonstrate its research potential. ...
Article
Full-text available
We present the open-access Mediterranean Archive of Isotopic dAta (MAIA) dataset, which includes over 48,000 isotopic measurements from prehistoric human, animal and plant samples from archaeological sites in the Mediterranean basin dating from the Neolithic to the Iron Age (ca. 6000 – 600 BCE). MAIA collates isotopic measurements (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, δ³⁴S, δ¹⁸O and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) alongside supporting information (e.g. chronology, location and bibliographic reference). MAIA can be used to explore past human and animal diets and mobility, reconstruct paleo-ecological and -climatic phenomena and investigate human-environment interaction throughout later prehistory in the Mediterranean. MAIA has multiple research applications and here we show how it can be used to evaluate sample preservation and identify data gaps to be addressed in future research. MAIA is available in an open-access format and can be employed in archaeological, anthropological, and paleo-ecological research.
... We will guarantee the open access to the BITACORA data through the use of already existent open access platforms or the development of a new one that better suits these data. Several options and platforms are being evaluated to host and curate the database, for example international platforms such as IsoBank [65], IsoArcH [66,67], or the Pandora platform (https://pandoradata.earth), as well as local platforms (CONICET Digital Repository, https://ri.conice t.gov.ar/). ...
Article
As a consequence of the recent history of Argentina related to crimes against humanity, the country has positioned itself as a leader on Forensic Anthropology in human rights contexts. To some extent it can even be argued that Forensic Genetics for human identification had its origins in human rights work in the early 1980s in Argentina. However, there are still hundreds of unidentified human remains recovered from the dictatorial regimes’ crimes. Additionally, every year there are dozens of unidentified deceased buried in public cemeteries. Thus, there is an urgent need to adopt new techniques that could increase the biological profile of a person, and therefore increase the chances of positive identifications. One of such initiatives is the development of isotopic databases and models that can provide information on the population and region of origin of unidentified victims. We present the development of an isotopic database of modern human tissues named BITACORA (from its name in Spanish: Base de Información Isotópica de Tejidos Actuales Como Referencia Argentina). BITACORA holds isotopic data (δ18O, δ2H, δ13C, δ15N and δ34S values) from teeth (enamel and dentine) and keratin tissues (scalp hair, beard and fingernails) obtained from volunteers of known origin, as well as individual information of the donors (age, gender, biometrics, dietary preferences, and relocation history). BITACORA is associated with a tap water isotope database. Currently, we have 345 keratin, 273 teeth and 287 tap water samples gathered from across the country. We present preliminary analyses on the geographic distribution of these isotopic markers, and provide an overall discussion of the current status and future development of the databases.
... Statistical analysis and data visualization were conducted using R software (R Core Team 2000). Data management follows the IsoArcH structure for managing isotopic data (Plomp et al. 2022;Salesse et al. 2018), and the data are available in the IsoArcH data repository (https://doi.org/10.48530/isoarch.2023.004). ...
... za/. The isotope data that support the findings of this study are openly available in IsoArcH 77 . Further data collection of additional elements of the skeletal remains is not possible, as the excavated human remains have been reburied in the Old Burying Ground, Seaforth, in Simon's Town, South Africa. ...
Article
Full-text available
Skeletal remains discovered in Simon’s Town, South Africa, were hypothesised as being associated with a former Dutch East India Company (VOC) hospital. We report a novel combined osteological and biochemical approach to these poorly-preserved remains. A combined strontium (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr), oxygen (δ¹⁸OVPDB) and carbon (δ¹³CVPDB) isotope analysis informed possible childhood origins and diet, while sex-specific amelogenin enamel peptides revealed biological sex. Osteological analyses presented evidence of residual rickets, a healed trauma, dental pathological conditions, and pipe notches. The combined isotope analyses yielded results for 43 individuals which suggested a diverse range of geological origins, including at least 16% of the population being non-local. The inclusion of δ¹³CVPDB had intriguing implications for three individuals who likely did not have origins in the Cape Town region nor in Europe. Peptide analysis on the dental enamel of 25 tested individuals confirmed they were all biologically male. We suggest that isolated enamel may provide crucial information about individuals’ pathological conditions, geographical origins, diet, and biological sex. These data further demonstrated that a combined approach using multiple osteological and biochemical methods is advantageous for human remains which are poorly preserved and can contextualise a site with little direct evidence.
... The 87 Sr/ 86 Sr and [Sr] data will be openly available in the IsoArcH database (https://www.isoarch.eu) (Salesse et al., 2018). ...
Article
Urnfields were the common type of cemetery in the Late Bronze Age (LBA) and Early Iron Age (EIA) in much of Northwest Europe. Rarely are there clear social or chronological differences between burials apart from changing pottery types. The cemetery of Destelbergen stands out because of the relatively high prevalence of monumental ditches surrounding a selection of graves, indicating a certain status difference between the deceased. Strontium concentrations ([Sr]) combined with radiocarbon (14 C) dates and spatial analysis bring to light clear differences between LBA and EIA traditions. The end of the LBA went hand in hand with the abandonment of the oldest part of the cemetery, which new 14 C dates demonstrate was strict. Additionally, [Sr] reveal changing diets in individuals buried centrally within monumental ditches. In the EIA these individuals present significantly lower [Sr] than the surrounding burials, potentially the result of a diet richer in animal protein at the expense of plant-based food, a distinction not seen in LBA burials. Even though continuity and equality are reflected in the uniform burial tradition seen within urnfields, this paper's analyses unlock subtle changes in social attitudes between the LBA and EIA and suggest increasing (dietary) social differentiation in the EIA.
... Summary statistics for the various groups and species or taxon are shown in Table 2 . This dataset is deposited in IsoArcH [5] ( www.isoarch.eu ) with the following Table 1 Fish and mammal bone samples and stable isotope data. ...
Article
Full-text available
Until relatively recently, stable sulphur isotope analysis of bone collagen was seldom undertaken in bioarchaeological research. With increasing frequency, its application has proven useful in reconstructing palaeodiets and palaeoecologies, as well as identifying potential migration and mobility patterns. Here, sulphur (δ34S) isotope analysis, together with carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N), was performed on six fish and 34 mammal bone collagen samples from 14 prehistoric sites in Lithuania dating from the Late Mesolithic (ca. 7000–5000 cal BC) to the Late Bronze Age (ca. 1100–500 cal BC). We present the first δ34S data from Lithuania, including coupled δ13C and δ15N data, offering a crucial dataset for future research to explore spatial and temporal variability in the region and beyond.
... The exponential production of isotope data and the development of open access repositories (Cocozza et al. 2022;Leggett et al. 2021;Salesse et al. 2018;Snoeck et al. 2022) facilitate the integration and comparison of several datasets for future large-scale, synthetic studies and for more comprehensive small-scale investigations. The interpretation of stable and radiogenic isotope data still requires a fundamental understanding of the ecological and environmental settings and their impact on isotope baselines, which is one of the most important challenges for future research. ...
Article
Full-text available
Early Mediaeval Archaeology was long infuenced by traditional narratives related to so-called Völkerwanderungen. Based on the interpretation of ancient written sources, the “Migration Period” was traditionally perceived as a time of catastrophic changes triggered by the collapse of the Western Roman Empire and massive migration waves of “barbarian” groups across Europe. In the last decades, isotope analyses have been increasingly used to test these traditional narratives by exploring past mobility patterns, shifts in dietary habits, and changes in subsistence strategies or in socio-economic structures among early medieval societies. To evaluate the achievements of isotope studies in understanding the complexity of the so-called Migration Period, this paper presents a review of 50 recent publications. Instead of re-analysing the data per se, this review first explores the potentials and limitations of the various approaches introduced in the last decades. In a second step, an analysis of the interpretations presented in the reviewed studies questions to what extend traditional expectations are supported by isotope data from the Migration Period. Beside revising the concept of massive migrations, isotope data reveal so-far underestimated mobility patterns and open new perspectives in the investigation of early medieval world.
... From its inception in 2011, the IsoArcH initiative (https://isoarch.eu [1]) has been an altruistic effort to benefit and engage as many people as possible in the field of bioarchaeological science and beyond. The initiative quickly evolved from a small community to a multidimensional one of likeminded individuals promoting, in addition to their common scientific interests, best practices in data accessibility and ethics, collaborative knowledge, open research practices, reproducibility, transparency, scientific innovation, inclusion, and/or public awareness. ...
... Among the recent initiatives in organizing published isotopic data in searchable databases, the one that has been the main inspiration behind SrIsoMed is IsoArcH (Salesse et al., 2018). IsoArcH initially compiled carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, strontium and sulphur isotopic data from bioarchaeological samples from the Graeco-Roman World and its margins, dating from the 12th c. ...
Article
This paper presents SrIsoMed, an open access and open source searchable database of published ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values from countries that have coastlines on the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean has been characterized by pronounced human mobility at different regional scales, as well as extensive material cultural networks, making it a prime area for strontium isotopic analyses for palaeomobility and provenance studies. SrIsoMed follows the example of several recent initiatives that have compiled isotopic data in searchable web-based databases, and its interactive maps and search functionalities are anticipated to make it an important research tool. With this paper we wish not only to increase the visibility and subsequent use of this database, but also to invite scholars to contribute data and bring to our attention omissions or suggestions for further future improvement.
... We combined CIMA medieval isotopic data with Roman isotopic data from the IsoArcH database 93 , to map and compare spatial distribution of human adult bone collagen carbon (δ 13 C -IRMS) and nitrogen (δ 15 N) stable isotopes for three time slices: 200 CE, 500 CE, and 800 CE (Fig. 4). This revealed regional differences in human isotopic values that reflect differences in diet and/or local isotopic baselines plus diachronic shifts associated with historical transitions. ...
Article
Full-text available
Here we present the Compendium Isotoporum Medii Aevi (CIMA), an open-access database gathering more than 50,000 isotopic measurements for bioarchaeological samples located within Europe and its margins, and dating between 500 and 1500 CE. This multi-isotope (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, δ³⁴S, δ¹⁸O, and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) archive of measurements on human, animal, and plant archaeological remains also includes a variety of supporting information that offer, for instance, a taxonomic characterization of the samples, their location, and chronology, in addition to data on social, religious, and political contexts. Such a dataset can be used to identify data gaps for future research and to address multiple research questions, including those related with studies on medieval human lifeways (i.e. human subsistence, spatial mobility), characterization of paleo-environmental and -climatic conditions, and on plant and animal agricultural management practices. Brief examples of such applications are given here and we also discuss how the integration of large volumes of isotopic data with other types of archaeological and historical data can improve our knowledge of medieval Europe.
... All the variables which appear in the dataset are explained in a detailed way in the IsoArcH platform ( https://isoarch.eu/) [1] . We intend to update the Brazilian isotopic database in IsoArcH gradually as the new publications releases. ...
Article
Full-text available
Three decades have passed since the publication in 1991 of the first use of stable isotope analysis applied to a Brazilian archaeological context. Despite being still mainly applied to palaeodietary research, stable isotope analysis in archaeology has been diversified in Brazil. In the last five years, an increasing number of studies has addressed various issues. Such issues are related to population mobility, social differentiation, health and children care, changes and resilience of cultural practices, identification of the origin of enslaved populations brought by force from the African continent, among others. However, research in this area is still incipient when compared to the large territory of Brazil (WGS 84: -33˚ to 5°N, -73˚ to -34˚E), the diversity of socio-cultural contexts of pre-colonial and indigenous societies, and to the country's historical formation process. In terms of radiocarbon dates, data are also sparse and lack of essential information as the material used for dating, as this information could be related to necessary corrections, e.g., the marine reservoir effect. The first radiocarbon dates of Brazilian archaeological material are reported, however, since 1950s and have more frequently reported in publications across Brazil since the installation of the first Brazilian radiocarbon laboratory (CENA/USP) in 1990 and the first Latin American ¹⁴C-AMS facility (LAC-UFF) in 2012. Thus, the purpose of this compilation was to gather all dispersed, and often fragmented, data from analyses of stable and radioactive (focusing on radiocarbon) isotopes carried out in Brazilian archaeological contexts. We compiled data from 1991 until the end of November 2021. The data included here contain information from 71 archaeological sites, 556 humans, 219 animals and 2 plants. Isotopic analyses were performed on 832 organic samples, mainly paired δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N plus δ³⁴S measurements, and on 265 mineral samples, mainly δ¹³C, δ¹⁸O and ⁸⁶Sr/⁸⁷Sr measurements. Sr concentrations for 49 mineral samples were also compiled. Radiocarbon or relative dates span from 18 kyr BP to the present. All data from this compilation are deposited in open access on the IsoArcH platform (https://doi.isoarch.eu/doi/2021.005). This extensive work aims to point out the gaps on stable isotopes and radiocarbon dates provided for Brazilian archaeological contexts that could be further explored. Besides, it aims to promote easy access to numerous analyses that, otherwise, would be hard to obtain. Lastly, it seeks broadening the interdisciplinary collaboration in Brazil and strengthening the international collaboration among peers.
... ). A description of the larger IsoArcH data management project to which this article contributes is provided in Salesse et al. [14] . Figure 1 is a map of Bahrain showing approximate site locations. ...
Article
Full-text available
This dataset presents carbon, nitrogen, oxygen (carbonates and phosphate) and strontium data from human and faunal remains from that portion of seven assemblages from Jordan and Bahrain currently curated at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History. Human remains from Bahraini assemblages include the Middle Islamic Period (c. 1,400-1,500 AD) cemetery associated with the Qal'at al-Bahrain fort (n=49) and the Early Dilmun City IIa-c Period (c. 2,350-1,800 BC) assemblages of Saar (n=31), Buri North (n=41) and Buri South (n=17). The Saar assemblage, at the time of sampling at the Smithsonian Institution, also included individuals recovered from isolated tombs outside the Saar mound field, with distinct alphanumeric or name designations. The Buri assemblage also contained one individual labeled BE (Buri East). Assemblages from Jordan include Early Bronze Age IB (c. 3,550-3,150 BC) Bab-edh Dhra (91 individuals selected of a total MNI of 274), the Iron Age IA (c. 1,250-1,100 BC) assemblage from a commingled cave burial from the Ba'Qa Valley (n=63), and the Late Roman (c. 200-300 AD) assemblage from Zabayir Zahir edh-Diyab, also known as the Queen Alia International Airport assemblage (n=69). Not all individuals from whom a bone sample was taken had a suitable tooth to sample as well. A cumulative total of 13 faunal samples (bone and teeth; cattle and sheep) were also obtained from the Bahraini assemblages, all but two from the Bronze Age assemblages. Results in general are consistent with those from other assemblages from both locations regardless of time period, but they also complement and expand what is known about long-distance migration and dietary diversity and resilience across time within marginal desert environments (e.g., [11]; [16]; [7,8]).
... Isotopic data were managed using isotopes data management practice recommended by the IsoArcH association for future metadata analysis (Salesse et al., 2018). All statistical analyses were performed using R (R Core Team, 2000). ...
Article
Full-text available
The site of Pella, located in the foothills of the east Jordan valley, was a prosperous city-state throughout the Middle Bronze Age (MBA, ca. 2000—1500 BCE). As part of a widespread trading network, Pella enjoyed extensive socio-economic relationships with Egypt, Cyprus and the Aegean, Anatolia and Babylonia during this period. We report isotopic analysis (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, δ¹⁸O, and δ¹³C) from enamel of 22 human permanent second molars of which 13 second lower molars were used for an additional biodistance analysis based on ASUDAS. The multidisciplinary approach investigates the ancestral background of MBA Pella and the degree of temporary or more permanent relocation from other settlements. Ancillary to carbonate isotope analysis for migration investigation, dietary information in the form of δ¹³Ccarbonate was also collected. δ¹³Ccarbonate values (mean -12.3‰ ± 0.4 SD) suggests a uniform diet reliant on C3 cereals and legumes as crops and animal fodder, adhering to expected Bronze Age Levantine dietary norms. Two methods are used to identify non-locals. Using a biospheric baseline, three individuals with non-local ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios are identified. Bagplot analysis of both ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and δ¹⁸O data suggests that three individuals (14%) grew up elsewhere; two individuals who were already identified as ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr outliers using biospheric data and one more with outlying δ¹⁸O values. All individuals identified as non-locals, using either method, are from one tomb, Tomb 62. The dental nonmetric traits indicated diverse morphology and subsequent ancestry for Tomb 62 (11 out 13), whereas primary burials (2/13) clustered together. The commingled condition of Tomb 62 material prevented a more exhaustive biodistance analysis, but the tentative results coincide with interpretations of the tomb. Significant movements of populations throughout the Middle Bronze Age are evidenced through funerary rituals and architecture, and this study demonstrates that Pella, thought to be peripheral, nonetheless had some permanent movement evidenced through isotopes and ancestry analysis.
... Statistical analysis and data visualization were conducted using R software (Core Team, 2000) and data management were followed using the IsoArcH structure for managing isotopic data (Salesse et al., 2018). The data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article and its supplementary materials. ...
Article
Full-text available
Objectives Excavations at Sidon (Lebanon) have revealed dual identities during the Middle Bronze Age (ca. 2000–1600 BCE): a maritime port and center for local distribution, as well as a settlement with a heavy subsistence dependence on the extensive inland hinterlands. We aim to investigate residential mobility at Sidon using isotopic analyses of 112 individuals from 83 burials (20 females, 26 males, and 37 subadults). Veneration and remembrance of the dead is evident from funerary offerings in and near the tombs. With marine fish a major component in funerary offerings, we predict major marine reliance in this coastal population. Materials and methods New isotopic evidence of paleomobility (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, δ¹⁸O) and diet (δ¹³Ccarbonate) is the focus of this research. Previous bulk bone collagen δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N analysis is strengthened by further sampling, along with δ³⁴S where collagen yield was sufficient. Results The five non-locals identified (8.9% of the 56 analyzed) come from constructed tombs with high-status grave goods except for one, which was heavily disturbed in antiquity. Dietary investigation of the population confirms reliance on terrestrial resources with no significant marine input. No significant differences in diet between the sexes or burial types are present. Conclusions Although Sidon was part of a growing Mediterranean network evidenced through artefactual finds, relatively low immigration is evident. While religious feasts venerating the dead may have involved significant piscine components, no appreciable marine input in diet is observed. Fish may have been reserved for the deceased or only consumed on feast days alongside the dead rather than a regular part of the Bronze Age menu.
Preprint
Full-text available
The Kodjadermen-Gumelnița-Karonovo VI human group (KGK VI) reached its maximal extension around 4500 BC, covering a large area comprised between southern Ukraine and northern Greece. Afterward, its distribution gradually receded, before vanishing altogether at the end of the fifth – early fourth millenniums BC. This study seeks to investigate the role of individual mobility during this process by performing strontium isotopic analyses on the human remains found at Gumelnița, Romania. It provides ⁸⁷ Sr/ ⁸⁶ Sr values for 21 human tooth enamel samples from 17 different individuals, together with those of 60 plant samples from 20 different locations (15 in Romania and 5 in Bulgaria) that were used to create a bioavailable strontium (BASr) baseline of the region. To obtain reliable sex estimations, proteomic analysis of amelogenin of human tooth enamel were also performed on seven individuals. According to the results, four individuals, three females and one male, should be considered as non-local, and may have spent their childhood on the southern bank of the Danube River. These data suggest that individual mobility was particularly prevalent during the last centuries of the fifth millennium, when the KGK VI complex was undergoing a process of disintegration.
Article
Full-text available
The South American Archaeological Isotopic Database (SAAID) is a comprehensive open-access resource that aggregates all available bioarchaeological stable and radiogenic isotope measurements, encompassing data from human individuals, animals, and plants across South America. Resulting from a collaborative effort of scholars who work with stable isotopes in this region, SAAID contains 53,781 isotopic measurements across 24,507 entries from individuals/specimens spanning over 12,000 years. SAAID includes valuable contextual information on archaeological samples and respective sites, such as chronology, geographical region, biome, and spatial coordinates, biological details like estimated sex and age for human individuals, and taxonomic description for fauna and flora. SAAID is hosted at the PACHAMAMA community within the Pandora data platform and the CORA repository to facilitate easy access. Because of its rich data structure, SAAID is particularly well-suited for conducting spatiotemporal meta-analyses. It serves as a valuable tool for addressing a variety of research topics, including the spread, adoption, and consumption intensification of food items, paleo-environmental reconstruction, as well as the exploration of mobility patterns across extensive geographic regions.
Article
Full-text available
In around 716 AD, the city of Santarém, Portugal, was conquered by the Berber and Arab armies that swept the Iberian Peninsula and went on to rule the region until the 12th century. Archaeological excavations in 2007/08 discovered an Islamic necropolis (Avenida 5 de Outubro #2–8) that appears to contain the remains of an early Muslim population in Santarém (8th– 10th century). In this study, skeletal material from 58 adult individuals was analysed for stable carbon (δ¹³Ccol; δ¹³Cap), nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) and sulphur (δ³⁴S) isotope ratios in bones, and stable oxygen (δ¹⁸O), carbon (δ¹³Cen) and radiogenic strontium (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) isotopes in tooth enamel. The results of this study revealed a dietary pattern of predominantly C3-plant and domestic C3-fed herbivore consumption during adulthood (δ¹³Ccol and δ¹⁵N, respectively) but a higher proportion of C4-plant input during childhood (δ¹³Cen) for some individuals—interpreted as possible childhood consumption of millet porridge, a common practice in North Africa—in those with unorthodox burial types (Groups 1 and 2) that was not practiced in the individuals with canonical burials (Group 3). In this first mobility study of a medieval Muslim population in Portugal, δ¹⁸ODW values revealed greater heterogeneity in Groups 1 and 2, consistent with diverse origins, some in more humid regions than Santarém when compared to regional precipitation δ¹⁸O data, contrasting the more homogenous Group 3, consistent with the local precipitation δ¹⁸O range. Ancient DNA analysis conducted on three individuals revealed maternal (mtDNA) and paternal (Y-chromosome) lineages compatible with a North African origin for (at least) some of the individuals. Additionally, mobility of females in this population was higher than males, potentially resulting from a patrilocal social system, practiced in Berber and Arab communities. These results serve to offer a more detailed insight into the ancestry and cultural practices of early Muslim populations in Iberia.
Chapter
This study presents an example of the application of isotopic analyses of archaeological bones to reconstruct past feeding practices. It focuses on several populations in the Provençal region that were dated between the end of the 3rd and the end of the 7th century AD. The aim is to explore the links between individual diet, the environment and biological and cultural identity. The analysis of stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen dosed directly on the bones makes it possible to estimate, for each individual, the rather herbivorous, carnivorous or piscivorous tendencies of the diet. The results concerning 120 individuals from Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, Riez and Digne-les-Bains highlight a variable place of aquatic resources in the Provencal diet and a diversity within groups showing the importance of diet as an economic and cultural marker.
Article
Full-text available
The transition to farming brought on a series of important changes in human society, lifestyle, diet and health. The human bioarchaeology of the agricultural transition has received much attention, however, relatively few studies have directly tested the interrelationship between individual lifestyle factors and their implications for understanding life history changes among the first farmers. We investigate the interplay between skeletal growth, diet, physical activity and population size across 30,000 years in the central Mediterranean through a ‘big data’ cross-analysis of osteological data related to stature (n = 361), body mass (n = 334) and long bone biomechanics (n = 481), carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) stable isotopes (n = 1986 human, n = 475 animal) and radiocarbon dates (n = 5263). We present the observed trends on a continuous timescale in order to avoid grouping our data into assigned ‘time periods’, thus achieving greater resolution and chronological control over our analysis. The results identify important changes in human life history strategies associated with the first farmers, but also highlight the long-term nature of these trends in the millennia either side of the agricultural transition. The integration of these different data is an important step towards disentangling the complex relationship between demography, diet and health, and reconstruct life history changes within a southern European context. We believe the methodological approach adopted here has broader global implications for bioarchaeological studies of human adaptation more generally.
Article
The article introduces the enhancements made to the IsoArcH database for isotope paleopathology. This includes the addition of new metadata fields, which allow for describing abnormal anatomical or physiological conditions in humans and animals at either the individual or sample level. To showcase the novel features of the database, the article features a unique dataset of carbon and nitrogen isotope values obtained on bulk bone collagen from 42 clinically-documented cases of the Jedlička pathological-anatomical reference collection, dating from the 19th century CE and curated at the National Museum in Prague, Czechia. The dataset includes 70 combined isotopic measurements from individuals who underwent anatomizations between 1841 and 1900 and had distinct bone diseases/disorders: i.e. syphilis, rickets, osteosarcoma, osteomyelitis, and healed fractures. Finally, the article highlights the value of the data in helping the isotope bioarchaeology and paleopathology communities in their understanding of disease processes.
Chapter
This chapter discusses the current state and future directions of the application of stable isotopes to archaeological materials. New technologies have facilitated massive growth in this field over the last twenty years. I briefly discuss some of these advancements and highlight some issues associated with maintaining quality control in the publication process. I highlight some interpretive techniques, such as mixing models, that have been used to make sense of isotopic data, highlighting the importance of generating excellent isotopic baselines to minimize inaccurate interpretations. The characterization of the isotopic composition of heavier elements and individual compounds is a burgeoning area of study that promises to produce important new insights. I close with my thoughts on the importance of mentoring the next generation of scholars in this field.KeywordsIsotope analysisMixing modelsIsotopic methodsCompound specific amino acids
Article
This paper reports carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur stable isotope data obtained from bone collagen of humans from the early medieval cemeteries of Hemmaberg/Gora svete Heme and Oberleiserberg located in Austria. The Hemmaberg/Gora svete Heme cemetery, dating from the 8th to the 11th century, comprises 29 graves, from which 15 individuals were analyzed. The Oberleiserberg cemetery, established in the first half of the 11th century, includes 71 graves as well as several incidental finds of human bones, from which 75 samples were analyzed. Both cemeteries show comparable δ¹³C data (mean for Oberleiserberg: –17.5 ± 1.2 ‰, 1σ; mean for Hemmaberg: –16.4 ± 1.6‰, 1σ). However, the δ¹⁵N values of individuals from Oberleiserberg (mean: +10.4 ± 1.5‰, 1σ) are slightly higher than those of individuals from Hemmaberg/Gora svete Heme (mean: +8.8 ± 1.1‰,1σ). The δ³⁴S values were only obtained on the individuals from Oberleiserberg, and show a mean value of –0.9 ± 2.0 ‰ (1σ). Beyond the isotopic data presented in this article, we lay the foundations for cooperation between the IsoArcH database (https://isoarch.eu) [1] and the THANADOS (https://thanados.net) [2] project. While IsoArcH primarily stores isotope-related datasets for bioarchaeology, THANADOS stores data on archaeologically and anthropologically researched burials. Moving forward, IsoArcH and THANADOS plan to work closely together to integrate their databases. This collaboration presents a promising opportunity for both projects to pool their resources and knowledge, offering a wealth of information for researchers and the general public who are interested in anthropology and archaeology.
Chapter
Full-text available
One of the primary limiting factors in our understanding of variability across spatial and long-term temporal scales in stable isotope studies in zooarchaeology has not been lack of data but rather a lack of data exchange, integration, and synthesis. The Neotoma Database (neotomadb.org) functions as an interdisciplinary, open access database for the paleoecology community. Primary data types include proxies such as pollen, vertebrate remains, diatoms, and middens. These data are stored in various constituent databases. The recently created Faunal Isotope Database (FID) allows for the integration of stable isotope data with these existing types. Neotoma serves as a hub for storing and accessing diverse data that embody the “big data” movement and offers an unparalleled opportunity for visualizing the intersection of stable isotope analysis of zooarchaeological material with multiple other proxies for paleoecological reconstruction, ranging from the macroscopic to microscopic and biogeochemical scales. In addition to the launch and initial population of the stable isotope repository, issues that affect all so-called big data efforts exist as challenges for the future, including establishing best practices and standardization in recording/reporting, monitoring data quality, linking datasets, and increasing accessibility while protecting sensitive information.
Book
Through case studies of faunal remains from Roman Britain, prehistoric Southeast Asia, ancient African pastoral cultures, and beyond, this volume illustrates some of the ways stable isotope analysis of ancient animals can address key questions in human prehistory. Contributors use a diverse set of isotopic techniques to investigate social and biological topics, including human paleodiets and foodways, hunting and procurement strategies, exchange patterns, animal husbandry and the genetic consequences of domestication, and short- and long-term environmental change. They demonstrate how different isotopes can be used alone or in conjunction to address questions of animal diet, movement, ecology, and management. Studies also examine how sampling strategies, statistical techniques, and regional and temporal considerations can influence isotopic results and interpretations. By applying these new methods in concert with traditional zooarchaeological analyses, archaeologists can explore questions about human ecology and environmental archaeology that were previously deemed inaccessible.
Article
Full-text available
The high temperatures reached during cremation lead to the destruction of organic matter preventing the use of traditional isotopic methods for dietary reconstructions. Still, strontium isotope (87 Sr/ 86 Sr) and concentration ([Sr]) analyses of cremated human remains offer a novel way to assess changing consumption patterns in past populations that practiced cremation, as evidenced by a large amount of new data obtained from Metal Ages and Gallo-Roman human remains from Destelbergen, Belgium. The Gallo-Roman results show significantly higher [Sr] and a narrower interquartile range in 87 Sr/ 86 Sr (0.7093-0.7095), close to the value of modern-day seawater (0.7092). This contrasts with the Metal Ages results, which display lower concentrations and a wider range in 87 Sr/ 86 Sr (0.7094-0.7098). This typical Sr signature is also reflected in other sites and is most likely related to an introduction of marine Sr in the form of salt as a food preservative (e.g. salt-rich preserved meat, fish and fish sauce). Paradoxically, this study highlights caution is needed when using 87 Sr/ 86 Sr for palaeomobility studies in populations with high salt consumption.
Article
Arguably one of the key elements that would come to define Roman society, mobility played a primary role in the expansion and maintenance of Roman authority. With the acquisition of ever- expanding territory and the establishment of new provinces came opportunities for both outward mobility from the Roman heartland as well as immigration to Rome. Discussions of mobility within the Roman empire typically focus on contexts from Rome proper and surrounding regions, while comparatively less is known regarding mobility in the provincial territories. The study presented herein utilises δ¹⁸O values from the second molar (M2) dental enamel of 39 adults, 20 of whom were additionally analysed for ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, to assess for potential mobility events among individuals interred in the ca. 1st to 3rd c. CE Gallo-Roman necropolis of Rue Jacques Brel in the Aquitaine region of France. Located in the modern-day municipality of Saintes, Jacques Brel functioned as a manufacturing location on the periphery of Mediolanum Santonum, the capital of Roman Aquitaine. While several individuals have isotope values that fall outside of the expected local δ¹⁸Odw and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ranges, suggesting mobility events, combine bagplot analysis of δ¹⁸Odw and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr did not identify any distinct outliers, bringing into question the nature of mobility to the site of Rue Jacques Brel. The small proportion of individuals identified as non-local among the individuals sampled from the Rue Jacques Brel necropolis raises several questions regarding the nature of mobility within Roman provincial settings and implications of site size and function on mobility. Lay summary One of the main questions about living in the Roman empire was “who was mobile?” With such a large territory covered by the Roman empire there were many opportunities to move from place to place, with some of the most common reasons for moving resulting from military deployment, government administration positions, and business ventures. Among the studies conducted to date, a significant number have focused on mobility to the capital of Rome itself, while fewer studies have looked directly at mobility in provincial contexts. The study presented here focusses on mobility to a provincial site in western France, a short distance from Bordeaux, called Rue Jacques Brel Necropolis. This site was the location of a small manufacturing operation and has an associated cemetery. Using statistical analyses of chemical data, it was possible to gain insights to potential mobility among the individuals interred in this cemetery. Of 39 individuals investigated, only a small number appeared truly non-local to the area of Rue Jacques Brel. Additional statistical analysis did not identify any distinct outliers, which brings forth several questions about approaches to gauging mobility. Numerous questions remain to be further investigated to help clarify these initial observations.
Article
Full-text available
Stable isotopic ratios of carbon and nitrogen performed on collagen and tooth enamel offer invaluable insight into the diet of ancient populations. In the northern Balkans, most of these isotopic data have been collected as auxiliary information of radiocarbon dates, to correct a potential marine reservoir effect. In order to facilitate the access of the academic community to these data, we present a set of isotopic carbon and nitrogen ratios of human collagen samples for 188 individuals from 12 previously published sites together with hitherto unreleased data for 24 individuals from 4 sites from the Neolithic and Eneolithic period in Bulgaria and Romania. This collection also includes previously published carbon isotopic ratio measurements on tooth enamel of 34 individuals.
Article
Full-text available
Whilst marine resources are one of the pillars of the Mediterranean diet, their mode of acquisition and subsequent consumption by medieval populations in southern France are still not well known. Throughout Europe, bioarchaeological techniques, however, are beginning to reveal hitherto unknown aspects of these practices both dating to the medieval period as well as other periods of history and prehistory. This study involved the stable isotope analysis of five marine and catadromous taxa from three medieval sites in Provence, France: "rue Frédéric Mistral" at Fos-sur-Mer, "le Château" at Hyères and "Couvent des Dominicaines - Parking/Collège Mignet" at Aix-en-Provence. In total, 127 specimens, including Anguilla anguilla, Dicentrarchus labrax, Sparus aurata, Diplodus sargus sargus and Mugilidae were subjected to carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis. The study provides a crucial and unprecedented point of reference of the carbon and nitrogen isotopic variability of one of the main dietary resources in the Mediterranean world, fish.
Article
Full-text available
This dataset is comprised of paired radiocarbon (¹⁴C) dates, and carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) stable isotope ratios received for skeletal remains of 18 humans and 6 animals. These remains were archaeologically-derived from a Late Neolithic passage grave in Kierzkowo, located in today's north-central Poland. All human individuals were sexed and aged by physical anthropologists; animal skeletal remains were identified by zooarchaeologists. Collagen samples were extracted from bones, radiocarbon dated by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope compositions measured by isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). The samples were collected and analysed to establish the absolute chronology of the tomb, estimate the frequency of burials, reconstruct the diets of humans and animals and trace their temporal changes. This is a largest dataset for skeletal samples (n = 24) from a single megalithic tomb in East-Central Europe and has a utility to be reused in various archaeological and palaeoenvironmental studies.
Article
Full-text available
Rationale: Strontium isotope (87 Sr/86 Sr) analysis of skeletal remains has become a powerful tool in archaeological studies of human migration and mobility. Owing to its resistance to post-mortem alteration dental enamel is the preferred sampling material used for 87 Sr/86 Sr analysis in bioarchaeological provenance research, although recent studies have demonstrated that cremated bone is also generally resistant to diagenesis. This paper presents the results of a pilot study exploring the potential of unburnt petrous bone (pars petrosa) as a reservoir of biogenic (diagenetically unaltered) strontium, as the otic capsule or bony labyrinth within the petrous bone is extremely dense and is thought to be unable to remodel after early childhood, potentially providing an alternative for dental enamel METHODS: From an individual from a colonial era (18th century) site on the island of Saba in the Caribbean for whom previous enamel 87 Sr/86 Sr results had indicated nonlocal origins, multiple locations (n = 4) on the petrous were sampled and measured for strontium isotope composition. Saba (13 km2 ) has been extensively mapped for baseline strontium isotopes (n = 50) with 87 Sr/86 Sr varying between ~0.7065 to 0.7090, whereas enamel 87 Sr/86 Sr (n= 3) ranged from 0.7104 to 0.7112. Results: All four petrous 87 Sr/86 Sr (0.7111-0.7122) are consistently and considerably higher than the local bioavailable range, and very similar to the enamel 87 Sr/86 Sr. These results provide initial evidence that unburnt petrous bones may preserve biogenic strontium, at least in this specific burial context. Conclusion: While more research in diverse burial conditions is needed to validate this observation, if confirmed, it would have broader implications for sample selection strategies in bioarchaeological studies using the strontium isotope method.
Article
Full-text available
The tooth enamel from the human remains of ten archaeological individuals belonging to a chalcolithic site at Inamgaon, District Pune, Maharashtra, were analysed for stable carbon and oxygen isotope compositions. The human remains of the involved individuals come from three consecutive periods: Period I (1600-1400 BC; n=2), Period II (1400 - 1000 BC; n=4), and Period III (1000 - 700 BC; n=4). Enamel carbonate of twenty teeth (n=20), two from each individual, were analysed to understand the inter- and intra- individual variations in isotope ratios across the three habitational periods. The acquired dataset will help in understanding isotope baseline values for the region in the prehistoric context. The subsequent research works in the region can reuse our data in collation with other datasets for comparative investigations.
Article
"The relationship between the literary and the political field is a debated topic in historiography, especially with the rise of new research methods. The question of how the writer constructs his artistic identity in a communist regime will be given an answer by studying the literary events and developments, which took place in Cluj‑Napoca, in the editorial office of Steaua (The Star) magazine during the 1950s. Steaua quickly enjoyed success in the cultural landscape of the time, and the editorial policy promoted under its editor‑in‑chief A.E. Baconsky, managed through numerous concessions, but also through a game in the mirror, to stage a literature with moderate ideological influences. Based on different sources, the paper reconstructs the environment in which the writers were formed during the communist period, focusing on the attempts made by them to obey the line in order to ensure their financial and professional survival."
Article
"This study aims to highlight the activity of the Cluj County Branch of the Romanian National Party (hereafter abbreviated as RNP) in the spring of 1920, covering the events from the fall of the government led by Alexandru Vaida–Voevod until the end of the parliamentary elections of May–June 1920. After the Great Union, the city of Cluj became the political capital of Transylvania, especially after the Ruling Council, which was the provisional executive body of Transylvania, moved its headquarters from Sibiu to Cluj. Iuliu Maniu, the President of the Ruling Council and of the R.N.P, who was elected at the Sibiu Conference of 9–10 August 1919, had settled in Cluj as well. Moreover, at the head of Cluj County Branch of the RNP were personalities with a rich history of struggle for the cause of National Liberation of the Romanians in Transylvania: Iuliu Coroianu, Emil Hațieganu, Aurel Socol, Sever Dan, Alexandru Rusu, Ioan Giurgiu, the Archpriest Ioan Pop of Morlaca, and the Priest‑Martyr Aurel Muntean from Huedin. After the dismissal of the Vaida government, the Central Executive Committee of the RNP convened a party congress for 24 April 1920, in Alba Iulia. Just before the congress, the Cluj County organization had started the election campaign. Meetings were organized in every town and village, aiming to elect representatives for the Congress in Alba Iulia. On 21 April 1920, a large assembly was held in Cluj, during which the deputies of Cluj presented their work in Parliament. Simultaneously, delegates were elected for the Congress of Alba Iulia. The RNP Congress adopted a draft resolution and the governing bodies were elected. Iuliu Maniu was re‑elected as President. Based on the decisions adopted at the Great National Assembly of Alba Iulia on 1 December 1918, he adopted a working program, which was summarized in thirteen chapters. During the electoral campaign of 1920 two major political groups became polar opposites: the one around the People’s Party, which was in power, and the parties that formed the Parliamentary Bloc and had governed before. On the list of candidates of the Cluj County Branch of the RNP we can mostly find the former MPs of the party, as well as those who had filled various leadership positions within the Ruling Council. Following the electoral process, despite all the efforts of the People’s Party, in power at that time – especially those of Octavian Goga – to dispel the propaganda conducted by the RNP, the latter party managed to obtain 27 seats in the House and 14 in the Senate. This placed the RNP in second place among Romania’s political parties. The Cluj County Branch of the RNP was able to win two of the five electoral districts in the Chamber, as well as two in the Senate, out of the three allocated to the county. Another conclusion would be that, starting from these parliamentary elections, more and more parties from the Old Kingdom penetrated into Transylvania and Banat. They would achieve some success with the voters only when they came to hold power in the state and organize elections. Still, the RNP remained the party with the largest grip on the electorate of Transylvania and Banat, and Cluj became the political capital of Transylvania."
Article
Full-text available
The late Iron Age (150–80 BC) proto-urban site of Basel-Gasfabrik, Switzerland, yielded numerous human skeletal remains, with individuals of all ages and both sexes being found in two cemeteries and in various features of the settlement itself. About 200 inhumations and two cremation burials as well as isolated skulls and bones attest to complex mortuary practices. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses of 90 human, 48 faunal, and seven cereal samples provide a rich database for dietary reconstruction. The results point to a diet that was largely based on C3 plants with a limited contribution of herbivore or pig meat and/or dairy products. Divergent isotope ratios can be attributed to the consumption of chicken meat/eggs or seasonally available salmon. Moreover, the contribution of C4 plants, supposedly millet, to human diets is well documented at Basel as well as at other central European Iron Age sites. We found no significant dietary distinctions between males and females. In children, indications for breastfeeding terminate between 1.5 and about 4 years of age, with isotopic differences emerging with regard to the investigated skeletal elements. The stable isotope data from different burial contexts, forms of mortuary practice, and presence or type of funerary objects overlap widely, providing only tentative indications for dietary differentiation within the living population. These findings distinguish Basel-Gasfabrik from other Iron Age sites and call for further integrative studies for deciphering the complex mechanisms behind the highly differentiated mortuary practices in the late Iron Age.
Article
Full-text available
Oxygen isotope analysis of archaeological skeletal remains is an increasingly popular tool to study past human migrations. It is based on the assumption that human body chemistry preserves the δ18O of precipitation in such a way as to be a useful technique for identifying migrants and, potentially, their homelands. In this study, the first such global survey, we draw on published human tooth enamel and bone bioapatite data to explore the validity of using oxygen isotope analyses to identify migrants in the archaeological record. We use human δ18O results to show that there are large variations in human oxygen isotope values within a population sample. This may relate to physiological factors influencing the preservation of the primary isotope signal, or due to human activities (such as brewing, boiling, stewing, differential access to water sources and so on) causing variation in ingested water and food isotope values. We compare the number of outliers identified using various statistical methods. We determine that the most appropriate method for identifying migrants is dependent on the data but is likely to be the IQR or median absolute deviation from the median under most archaeological circumstances. Finally, through a spatial assessment of the dataset, we show that the degree of overlap in human isotope values from different locations across Europe is such that identifying individuals' homelands on the basis of oxygen isotope analysis alone is not possible for the regions analysed to date. Oxygen isotope analysis is a valid method for identifying first-generation migrants from an archaeological site when used appropriately, however it is difficult to identify migrants using statistical methods for a sample size of less than c. 25 individuals. In the absence of local previous analyses, each sample should be treated as an individual dataset and statistical techniques can be used to identify migrants, but in most cases pinpointing a specific homeland should not be attempted.
Article
Full-text available
Migration within the Roman Empire occurred at multiple scales and was engaged in both voluntarily and involuntarily. Because of the lengthy tradition of classical studies, bioarchaeological analyses must be fully contextualized within the bounds of history, material culture, and epigraphy. In order to assess migration to Rome within an updated contextual framework, strontium isotope analysis was performed on 105 individuals from two cemeteries associated with Imperial Rome-Casal Bertone and Castellaccio Europarco-and oxygen and carbon isotope analyses were performed on a subset of 55 individuals. Statistical analysis and comparisons with expected local ranges found several outliers who likely immigrated to Rome from elsewhere. Demographics of the immigrants show men and children migrated, and a comparison of carbon isotopes from teeth and bone samples suggests the immigrants may have significantly changed their diet. These data represent the first physical evidence of individual migrants to Imperial Rome. This case study demonstrates the importance of employing bioarchaeology to generate a deeper understanding of a complex ancient urban center.
Article
Full-text available
The radiocarbon dating laboratory at KIK-IRPA in Brussels was founded in the 1960s. From the beginning, dates were reported at more or less regular intervals in the journal Radiocarbon (Schreurs 1968) as did most of the other 14 C laboratories.
Article
Full-text available
Agriculture has played a pivotal role in shaping landscapes, soils and vegetation. Developing a better understanding of early farming practices can contribute to wider questions regarding the long-term impact of farming and its nature in comparison with present-day traditional agrosystems. In this study we determine stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values of barley grains from a series of present-day traditionally managed farming plots in Morocco, capturing a range of annual rainfall and farming practices. This allows a framework to be developed to refine current isotopic approaches used to infer manuring intensity and crop water status in (semi-)arid regions. This method has been applied to charred crop remains from two early farming sites in the eastern Mediterranean: Abu Hureyra and ‘Ain Ghazal. In this way, our study enhances knowledge of agricultural practice in the past, adding to understanding of how people have shaped and adapted to their environment over thousands of years.
Article
Full-text available
A reconstruction of the ancient subsistence economy and land use strategies is presented here for the province of Burdur, more specifically the area south and southeast of Lake Burdur, in southwestern Turkey. This review is based on the results from archaeozoological (including bone collagen carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses) and archaeobotanical analyses available from seven sites, dated to distinct time periods ranging from the Neolithic to the Middle Byzantine period. The data (both published and unpublished) are compiled with information available on settlement development and dynamics, in the study area. Results show changing agrarian and animal husbandry practices for a period of more than 8000 years, ranging between self-sustaining economies to specialised husbandry practices and an intensive agricultural exploitation of the landscape, in relation to human settlement activities.
Article
Full-text available
Over the past forty years, stable isotope analysis of bone (and tooth) collagen and hydroxyapatite has become a mainstay of archaeological and paleoanthropological reconstructions of paleodiet and paleoenvironment. Despite this method's frequent use across anthropological subdisciplines (and beyond), the present work represents the first attempt at gauging the effects of inter-laboratory variability engendered by differences in a) sample preparation, and b) analysis (instrumentation, working standards, and data calibration). Replicate analyses of a 14C-dated ancient human bone by twenty-one archaeological and paleoecological stable isotope laboratories revealed significant inter-laboratory isotopic variation for both collagen and carbonate. For bone collagen, we found a sizeable range of 1.8‰ for δ13Ccol and 1.9‰ for δ15Ncol among laboratories, but an interpretatively insignificant average pairwise difference of 0.2‰ and 0.4‰ for δ13Ccol and δ15Ncol respectively. For bone hydroxyapatite the observed range increased to a troublingly large 3.5‰ for δ13Cap and 6.7‰ for δ18Oap, with average pairwise differences of 0.6‰ for δ13Cap and a disquieting 2.0‰ for δ18Oap. In order to assess the effects of preparation versus analysis on isotopic variability among laboratories, a subset of the samples prepared by the participating laboratories were analyzed a second time on the same instrument. Based on this duplicate analysis, it was determined that roughly half of the isotopic variability among laboratories could be attributed to differences in sample preparation, with the other half resulting from differences in analysis (instrumentation, working standards, and data calibration). These findings have serious implications for choices made in the preparation and extraction of target biomolecules, the comparison of results obtained from different laboratories, and the interpretation of small differences in bone collagen and hydroxyapatite isotope values. To address the issues arising from inter-laboratory comparisons, we devise a novel measure we term the Minimum Meaningful Difference (MMD), and demonstrate its application.
Article
Full-text available
Nitrogen isotopic studies have the potential to shed light on the structure of ancient ecosystems, agropastoral regimes, and human-environment interactions. Until relatively recently, however, little attention was paid to the complexities of nitrogen transformations in ancient plant-soil systems and their potential impact on plant and animal tissue nitrogen isotopic compositions. This paper discusses the importance of understanding nitrogen dynamics in ancient contexts, and highlights several key areas of archaeology where a more detailed understanding of these processes may enable us to answer some fundamental questions. This paper explores two larger themes that are prominent in archaeological studies using stable nitrogen isotope analysis: (1) agricultural practices (use of animal fertilizers, burning of vegetation or shifting cultivation, and tillage) and (2) animal domestication and husbandry (grazing intensity/stocking rate and the foddering of domestic animals with cultigens). The paucity of plant material in ancient deposits necessitates that these issues are addressed primarily through the isotopic analysis of skeletal material rather than the plants themselves, but the interpretation of these data hinges on a thorough understanding of the underlying biogeochemical processes in plant-soil systems. Building on studies conducted in modern ecosystems and under controlled conditions, these processes are reviewed, and their relevance discussed for ancient contexts.
Article
Full-text available
Strontium isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) are a key geochemical tracer used in a wide range of fields including archaeology, ecology, food and forensic sciences. These applications are based on the principle that the Sr isotopic ratios of natural materials reflect the sources of strontium available during their formation. A major constraint for current studies is the lack of robust reference maps to evaluate the source of strontium isotope ratios measured in the samples. Here we provide a new dataset of bioavailable Sr isotope ratios for the major geologic units of France, based on plant and soil samples (Pangaea data repository doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.819142 ). The IRHUM (Isotopic Reconstruction of Human Migration) database is a web platform to access, explore and map our dataset. The database provides the spatial context and metadata for each sample, allowing the user to evaluate the suitability of the sample for their specific study. In addition, it allows users to upload and share their own datasets and data products, which will enhance collaboration across the different research fields. This article describes the sampling and analytical methods used to generate the dataset and how to use and access of the dataset through the IRHUM database. Any interpretation of the isotope dataset is outside the scope of this publication.
Article
Full-text available
Human and animal diet reconstruction studies that rely on tissue chemical signatures aim at providing estimates on the relative intake of potential food groups. However, several sources of uncertainty need to be considered when handling data. Bayesian mixing models provide a natural platform to handle diverse sources of uncertainty while allowing the user to contribute with prior expert information. The Bayesian mixing model FRUITS (Food Reconstruction Using Isotopic Transferred Signals) was developed for use in diet reconstruction studies. FRUITS incorporates the capability to account for dietary routing, that is, the contribution of different food fractions (e.g. macronutrients) towards a dietary proxy signal measured in the consumer. FRUITS also provides relatively straightforward means for the introduction of prior information on the relative dietary contributions of food groups or food fractions. This type of prior may originate, for instance, from physiological or metabolic studies. FRUITS performance was tested using simulated data and data from a published controlled animal feeding experiment. The feeding experiment data was selected to exemplify the application of the novel capabilities incorporated into FRUITS but also to illustrate some of the aspects that need to be considered when handling data within diet reconstruction studies. FRUITS accurately predicted dietary intakes, and more precise estimates were obtained for dietary scenarios in which expert prior information was included. FRUITS represents a useful tool to achieve accurate and precise food intake estimates in diet reconstruction studies within different scientific fields (e.g. ecology, forensics, archaeology, and dietary physiology).
Article
Full-text available
Growing scientific evidence from modern climate science is loaded with implications for the environmental history of the Roman Empire and its successor societies. The written and archaeological evidence, although richer than commonly realized, is unevenly distributed over time and space. A first synthesis of what the written records and multiple natural archives (multi-proxy data) indicate about climate change and variability across western Eurasia from c. 100 b.c. to 800 a.d. confirms that the Roman Empire rose during a period of stable and favorable climatic conditions, which deteriorated during the Empire's third-century crisis. A second, briefer period of favorable conditions coincided with the Empire's recovery in the fourth century; regional differences in climate conditions parallel the diverging fates of the eastern and western Empires in subsequent centuries. Climate conditions beyond the Empire's boundaries also played an important role by affecting food production in the Nile valley, and by encouraging two major migrations and invasions of pastoral peoples from Central Asia.
Article
Full-text available
The spread of farming from western Asia to Europe had profound long-term social and ecological impacts, but identification of the specific nature of Neolithic land management practices and the dietary contribution of early crops has been problematic. Here, we present previously undescribed stable isotope determinations of charred cereals and pulses from 13 Neolithic sites across Europe (dating ca. 5900-2400 cal B.C.), which show that early farmers used livestock manure and water management to enhance crop yields. Intensive manuring inextricably linked plant cultivation and animal herding and contributed to the remarkable resilience of these combined practices across diverse climatic zones. Critically, our findings suggest that commonly applied paleodietary interpretations of human and herbivore δ(15)N values have systematically underestimated the contribution of crop-derived protein to early farmer diets.
Article
Full-text available
Funerary practices and bioarchaeological (sex and age) data suggest that a mortality crisis linked to an epidemic episode occurred during the fifth phase of the St. Benedict cemetery in Prague (Czech Republic). To identify this mass mortality episode, we reconstructed individual life histories (dietary and mobility factors), assessed the population's biological homogeneity, and proposed a new chronology through stable isotope analysis (δ(13) C, δ(18) O and δ(15) N) and direct radiocarbon dating. Stable isotope analysis was conducted on the bone and tooth enamel (collagen and carbonate) of 19 individuals from three multiple graves (MG) and 12 individuals from individual graves (IG). The δ(15) N values of collagen and the difference between the δ(13) C values of collagen and bone carbonate could indicate that the IG individuals had a richer protein diet than the MG individuals or different food resources. The human bone and enamel carbonate and δ(18) O values suggest that the majority of individuals from MG and all individuals from IG spent most of their lives outside of the Bohemian region. Variations in δ(18) O values also indicate that all individuals experienced residential mobility during their lives. The stable isotope results, biological (age and sex) data and eight (14) C dates clearly differentiate the MG and IG groups. The present work provides evidence for the reuse of the St. Benedict cemetery to bury soldiers despite the funeral protest ban (1635 AD). The Siege of Prague (1742 AD) by French-Bavarian-Saxon armies is identified as the cause of the St. Benedict mass mortality event. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Article
Full-text available
This paper reviews the research into the methodology of lead isotope provenance studies carried out at the University of Oxford between 1975 and 2002, at first in the Department of Geology (Geological Age and Isotope Research Laboratory), later in the Isotrace Laboratory based in the Department of Nuclear Physics, and eventually part of the Research Laboratory of Archaeology and the History of Art. These 27years of intensive work, funded initially by the Stiftung Volkswagenwerk, and later from numerous UK Government and Charitable funds and finally by the Institute of Aegean Prehistory laid the foundations of the lead isotope provenance methodology and resulted in a large database of analytical isotope and elemental results. In spite of the efforts of the authors, this database is still not comprehensively published or easily accessible in a digital format by all researchers interested in using this method for their projects. The possibilities of advancing this situation are discussed. The authors discuss in detail the basic restrictions and advantages of using the lead isotope compositions of ores in mineral deposits for finding the origin of the raw materials used for making ancient artefacts. Methods for the scientific interpretation of the data are discussed, including attempts to use statistical methods. The methodology of creating the Oxford lead isotope database (OXALID) is outlined and a summary is given of the lead isotope resource provided by OXALID.
Article
Full-text available
Differential fractionation of stable isotopes of carbon during photosynthesis causes C-4 plants and C-3 plants to have distinct carbon-isotope signatures. In addition, marine C-3 plants have stable-isotope ratios of carbon that are intermediate between C-4 and terrestrial C-3 plants. The direct incorporation of the carbon-isotope ratio (C-13/C-12) of plants into consumers' tissues makes this ratio useful in studies of animal ecology. The heavy isotope of nitrogen (N-15) is preferentially incorporated into the tissues of the consumer from the diet, which results in a systematic enrichment in nitrogen-isotope ratio (N-15/N-14) with each trophic level. Consequently, stable isotopes of nitrogen have been used primarily to assess position in food chains. The literature pertaining to the use of stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen in animal trophic ecology was reviewed. Data from 102 studies that reported stable-isotope ratios of carbon and (or) nitrogen of wild birds and (or) mammals were compiled and analyzed relative to diet, latitude, body size, and habitat moisture. These analyses supported the predicted relationships among trophic groups. Carbon-isotope ratios differed among species that relied on C-3, C-4, and marine food chains. Likewise, nitrogen-isotope ratios were enriched in terrestrial carnivorous mammals relative to terrestrial herbivorous mammals. Also, marine carnivores that ate vertebrates had nitrogen-isotope ratios that were enriched over the ratios of those that ate invertebrates. Data from the literature also indicated that (i) the carbon-isotope ratio of carnivore bone collagen was inversely related to latitude, which was likely the result of an inverse relationship between the proportion of carbon in the food chain that was fixed by C-4 plants and latitude; (ii) seabirds and marine mammals from northern oceans had higher nitrogen-isotope ratios than those from southern oceans; (iii) the nitrogen-isotope ratios of terrestrial mammals that used xeric habitats were higher than the ratios of those that used mesic habitats, indicating that water stress can have important effects on the nitrogen-isotope ratio; (iv) there was no relationship between body mass and nitrogen-isotope ratio for either bone collagen or muscle of carnivores; and (v) there was linear covariation between stable-isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen in marine food chains (but not in terrestrial C-3 or C-4 food chains), which is likely a product of increases in carbon-isotope ratio with trophic level in marine food chains. Differences in stable-isotope composition among trophic groups were detected despite variation attributable to geographic location, climate, and analytical techniques, indicating that these effects are large and pervasive. Consequently, as knowledge of the distribution of stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen increases, they will probably become an increasingly important tool in the study of avian and mammalian trophic ecology.
Article
Full-text available
We present a novel approach to study the sustainability of ancient Mediterranean agriculture that combines the measurement of carbon isotope discrimination (Delta(13)C) and nitrogen isotope composition (delta(15)N) along with the assessment of quality traits in fossil cereal grains. Charred grains of naked wheat and barley were recovered in Los Castillejos, an archaeological site in SE Spain, with a continuous occupation of ca. 1500 years starting soon after the origin of agriculture (ca. 4000 BCE) in the region. Crop water status and yield were estimated from Delta(13)C and soil fertility and management practices were assessed from the delta(15)N and N content of grains. The original grain weight was inferred from grain dimensions and grain N content was assessed after correcting N concentration for the effect of carbonisation. Estimated water conditions (i.e. rainfall) during crop growth remained constant for the entire period. However, the grain size and grain yield decreased progressively during the first millennium after the onset of agriculture, regardless of the species, with only a slight recovery afterwards. Minimum delta(15)N values and grain N content were also recorded in the later periods of site occupation. Our results indicate a progressive loss of soil fertility, even when the amount of precipitation remained steady, thereby indicating the unsustainable nature of early agriculture at this site in the Western Mediterranean Basin. In addition, several findings suggest that barley and wheat were cultivated separately, the former being restricted to marginal areas, coinciding with an increased focus on wheat cultivation.
Thesis
Entre 2003 et 2010, dans la région centrale nommée X de la catacombe des Saints Pierre-et-Marcellin à Rome, a été découvert et en partie fouillé un ensemble de sépultures plurielles inédites (Ier-IIIe s. ap. J.-C.) contenant plusieurs centaines d’individus, lesquels ont été inhumés selon des pratiques funéraires singulières à la suite d’un épisode de surmortalité de nature probablement épidémique. Pour appréhender l’histoire de vie (alimentation et mobilité) de ces défunts et rediscuter sur la base d’éléments nouveaux certaines hypothèses préalablement établies, nous avons mené dans le cadre de ce travail une approche archéo-biogéochimique multi-proxy (14C, δ13C, δ15N, δ18O et 87Sr/86Sr) et multi-tissulaire (émail, os, cheveu) sur un échantillon de 130 individus issus de six différentes chambres. Nous avons dans un premier temps vérifié l’intégrité biochimique et isotopique des fractions minérales (phases carbonatées) et organiques (phases collagénique et kératinique) des échantillons à partir d’indicateurs classiques mesurés en routine (%Col, %C, %N, C/N, PCO2 et PCO2/Masse) et par spectroscopie IRTF (IRSF, CO3/PO4 et AmideI/PO4) et par une approche innovante consistant en des datations 14C sur couples collagène-apatite pour valider le signal isotopique des fractions minérales. Nos résultats mettent en évidence des différences extrêmes de préservation de toutes les phases. La trajectoire diagénétique des échantillons n’est toutefois pas aléatoire mais dépendante des conditions environnementales et taphonomiques différant entre les petites et les grandes chambres. En outre, nous avons pu démontrer qu’en dépit de fortes recristallisations et d’échanges isotopiques avec l’environnement sépulcral, les phases carbonatées possèdent un signal isotopique biogénique non altéré. Nous avons dans un second temps reconstruit les régimes alimentaires des individus en nous appuyant sur des référentiels de comparaisons robustes ainsi que divers modèles interprétatifs (mono-proxys versus multi-proxys ; qualitatifs versus quantitatifs), lesquels ont été dans certains cas adaptés au besoin de notre étude. D’une façon générale, nos résultats montrent que l’essentiel des individus a eu accès à un régime alimentaire type fondé sur la triade Céréales C3/Viande C3/Poisson marin. Ce régime alimentaire type n’est toutefois pas exclusif, certains individus (n = 13) ayant consommé de façon occasionnelle d’autres catégories de ressources tels que du poisson dulcicole ou des céréales C4. Nos résultats révèlent que les changements d’alimentation au cours de la vie sont relativement limités. Par ailleurs, cette population se singularise sur un plan strictement alimentaire au regard des autres populations contemporaines romaines pour lesquelles des valeurs isotopiques sont publiées. Nous avons dans un troisième temps étudié les schémas de mobilité des individus en nous fondant sur une approche rigoureuse de nos données et sur des référentiels de comparaison les plus exhaustifs possible ainsi qu’en tenant compte de biais ordinairement éludés (faits culturels, influence du climat et erreurs associées aux équations de conversion). Nos résultats mettent en lumière qu’a minima 23 % (n = 30) des individus étudiés sont migrants. Ces derniers ne se distinguent toutefois pas de par leur alimentation des résidents romains. Nous avons pu montrer en outre que ces migrants ont eu des trajectoires de vie complexes et hétérogènes et que trois schémas de mobilité distincts les caractérisent. Notre population ne se différencie pas en termes de taux de migrants des autres populations romaines pour lesquelles des données isotopiques sont disponibles. Elle se distingue en revanche par son cosmopolitisme avec des origines pour les migrants des plus diverses : Europe, Afrique, Arabie et Asie mineure [...].
Article
The city of Gabii arose just east of Rome around the 8th century BC. By the Imperial period, it had all but collapsed, its habitation areas either abandoned or repurposed for industrial production. Burials within the city, however, may speak to the urbanization and collapse of Gabii. Twenty-one skeletons from the Imperial era (1st–3rd centuries AD) were analyzed for stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in an effort to understand palaeodiet. Adults' diets are relatively homogeneous, particularly in comparison with samples from nearby sites dating to the same period, and reflect consumption of terrestrial meats and C3 plants. Subadult diets do not reflect breastfeeding at the time of death. One individual with anomalous isotopes may have been an immigrant to Gabii.
Article
The use of isotopic measurements in archaeological research has increased rapidly over the past ~ 25 years, owing largely to the proliferation of the instruments required to produce these measurements relatively quickly and cheaply. Unfortunately, the understanding of how to adequately calibrate and report these isotopic data has not kept pace. We surveyed nearly 500 archaeological research papers published within the past 25 years that presented original isotopic data. We found that, generally, the majority of studies do not provide adequate information regarding how isotopic measurements were calibrated, nor how analytical uncertainty (precision and accuracy) was assessed. We review and present recommendations for data analysis, calibration, and reporting to aid archaeological researchers who use isotopic measurements and practices. We present a simple method for quantifying standard analytical uncertainty using data that would be provided by most laboratories.
Article
The island cemetery site of Ostorf (Germany) consists of individual human graves containing Funnel Beaker ceramics dating to the Early or Middle Neolithic. However, previous isotope and radiocarbon analysis demonstrated that the Ostorf individuals had a diet rich in freshwater fish. The present study was undertaken to quantitatively reconstruct the diet of the Ostorf population and establish if dietary habits are consistent with the traditional characterization of a Neolithic diet. Quantitative diet reconstruction was achieved through a novel approach consisting of the use of the Bayesian mixing model Food Reconstruction Using Isotopic Transferred Signals (FRUITS) to model isotope measurements from multiple dietary proxies (δ(13) Ccollagen , δ(15) Ncollagen , δ(13) Cbioapatite , δ(34) Smethione , (14) Ccollagen ). The accuracy of model estimates was verified by comparing the agreement between observed and estimated human dietary radiocarbon reservoir effects. Quantitative diet reconstruction estimates confirm that the Ostorf individuals had a high protein intake due to the consumption of fish and terrestrial animal products. However, FRUITS estimates also show that plant foods represented a significant source of calories. Observed and estimated human dietary radiocarbon reservoir effects are in good agreement provided that the aquatic reservoir effect at Lake Ostorf is taken as reference. The Ostorf population apparently adopted elements associated with a Neolithic culture but adapted to available local food resources and implemented a subsistence strategy that involved a large proportion of fish and terrestrial meat consumption. This case study exemplifies the diversity of subsistence strategies followed during the Neolithic. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Article
Quantitative individual human diet reconstruction using isotopic data and a Bayesian approach typically requires the inclusion of several model parameters, such as individual isotopic data, isotopic and macronutrient composition of food groups, diet-to-tissue isotopic offsets and dietary routing. In an archaeological context, sparse data may hamper a widespread application of such models. However, simpler models may be proposed to address specific archaeological questions. As a consequence of the intake of marine foods, individuals from the first century ad Roman site of Herculaneum showed well-defined bone collagen radiocarbon age offsets from the expected terrestrial value. Taking as reference these radiocarbon offsets and using as model input stable isotope data (δ13C and δ15N), the performance of two Bayesian mixing model instances (routed and concentration-dependent model versus non-routed and concentration-independent) was compared to predict the carbon contribution of marine foods to bone collagen. Predictions generated by both models were in good agreement with observed values. The model with higher complexity showed only a slightly better performance in terms of accuracy and precision. This demonstrates that under similar circumstances, a simple Bayesian approach can be applied to quantify the carbon contribution of marine foods to human bone collagen.
Article
The study of stable isotopes surviving in human bone is fast becoming a standard response in the analysis of cemeteries. Reviewing the state of the art for Roman Britain, the author shows clear indications of a change in diet (for the better) following the Romanisation of Iron Age Britain-including more seafood, and more nutritional variety in the towns. While samples from the bones report an average of diet over the years leading up to an individual's death, carbon and nitrogen isotope signatures taken from the teeth may have a biographical element-capturing those childhood dinners. In this way migrants have been detected - as in the likely presence of Africans in Roman York.While not unexpected, these results show the increasing power of stable isotopes to comment on populations subject to demographic pressures of every kind.
Article
Oxygen isotope compositions were measured in teeth (n = 29) and bones (n = 41) from Egyptian mummies of humans (n = 48) in order to track the δ18O evolution of the Nile from 5500 to 1500 B.P. The combination of δ18O values of apatite carbonate and phosphate was used to filter the database for post mortem alteration of bioapatites, while 87Sr/86Sr ratios were used to detect potential allochthonous people buried in the various archeological sites located along the Nile. This approach led to only five apatite samples out of seventy to be discarded from the database. The remaining oxygen isotope compositions of both tooth and bone phosphates from ancient Egyptians were converted into the composition of ingested water ultimately originating from the Nile. It was found that δ18O of Nile waters increases progressively from −1.6 to +1.5 (‰ VSMOW) from the Predynastic (∼5500 B.P.) through the Late Period (∼2550 B.P.). This trend towards higher Nile δ18O values acquired in more recent times is coherent with a general drying trend in Northeast Africa, which was not limited to a drying spell at the end of the Nabtian Pluvial (ca. 12,000 B.P. –ca. 6000 B.P.), but extended far into the following millennia nearly to the beginning of the Common Era (1950 B.P.)
Article
IsoMAP is a TeraGrid-based web portal aimed at building the infrastructure that brings together distributed multi-scale and multi-format geospatial datasets to enable statistical analysis and modeling of environmental isotopes. A typical workflow enabled by the portal includes (1) data source exploration and selection, (2) statistical analysis and model development; (3) predictive simulation of isotope distributions using models developed in (1) and (2); (4) analysis and interpretation of simulated spatial isotope distributions (e.g., comparison with independent observations, pattern analysis). The gridded models and data products created by one user can be shared and reused among users within the portal, enabling collaboration and knowledge transfer. This infrastructure and the research it fosters can lead to fundamental changes in our knowledge of the water cycle and ecological and biogeochemical processes through analysis of network-based isotope data, but it will be important A) that those with whom the data and models are shared can be sure of the origin, quality, inputs, and processing history of these products, and B) the system is agile and intuitive enough to facilitate this sharing (rather than just `allow' it). IsoMAP researchers are therefore building into the portal's architecture several components meant to increase the amount of metadata about users' products and to repurpose those metadata to make sharing and discovery more intuitive and robust to both expected, professional users as well as unforeseeable populations from other sectors.
Article
During the early medieval period in Ireland, Dublin was established as the largest Viking settlement on the island in the ninth century AD. A previous biodistance study has suggested that the population of the town consisted of a polyethnic amalgam of immigrant and indigenous. In this study, we use biogeochemistry to investigate paleomobility and paleodiet in archaeological human remains from the ninth to eleventh century levels at the sites at Fishamble Street II (National Museum of Ireland excavation number E172), Fishamble Street III (E190) and John’s Lane (E173), as well as twelfth-century remains from Wood Quay (E132). Through radiogenic strontium isotope, stable oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen isotope, and elemental concentration analyses, we investigate the origins of the individuals who lived and died in early and late Viking Dublin. Mean archaeological human enamel and bone isotope values from Dublin are 87Sr/86Sr = 0.70975 ± 0.00139 (2σ, n = 22), δ13Ccarbonate(V-PDB) = −14.8‰ ± 0.8‰ (1σ, n = 12), and δ18Ocarbonate(V-PDB) = −7.2‰ ± 1.0‰ (1σ, n = 12). Archaeological human bone samples exhibit mean δ13Ccollagen(V-PDB) = −20.8‰ ± 0.5‰ (1σ, n = 12) and mean δ15Ncollagen(AIR) = +10.0‰ ± 1.7‰ (1σ, n = 12). Comparing these data with archaeological faunal data from Dublin and published data from northern Europe, we argue that there are no clear immigrants from other parts of the North Atlantic, although there is one clear outlier in both origins and diet. Overall, the relative homogeneity in both paleomobility and paleodiet may support models of acculturation in Viking Dublin, rather than a high number of first-generation immigrants or continued migration from Scandinavia.
Article
The Jura Mountains are considered to be a region where phases of ice cap extension and retreat in response to climatic variation during the Upper Pleniglacial and Lateglacial (ca. 24,000e12,800 cal BP) are well reflected in the vegetation and animal spectrum composition. A new set of direct AMS radiocarbon dates of collagen from reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) bones found at archaeological sites indicated an almost continuous occupation of the Jura region since the end of Last Glacial Maximum, at ca. 24,000 cal BP, until its local disappearance around 14,000 cal BP. To investigate a possible change in reindeer ecology, isotopic analysis of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur in collagen (d13Ccoll, d15Ncoll, d34Scoll) were performed on the dated specimens. A decrease in the d13Ccoll and d15Ncoll values of Jura reindeer was found at the beginning of the Lateglacial period around 16,300e15,600 cal BP. While the change in d13Ccoll values was better explained by a change in diet composition with a decreasing input of lichens, the relative low d15Ncoll values of the reindeer during the Lateglacial was consistent with a geographical pattern of soil maturity inherited from the Last Glacial Maximum. The same pattern was also seen in the d15Ncoll values of the Lateglacial horse (Equus sp.) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) until ca. 14,000 cal BP. The decrease in reindeer d15Ncoll around 16,300e15,600 cal BP and around 21,000e20,000 cal BP in the Jura region may be linked to the occupation of territories recently released by glaciers that formed during the Heinrich event 1 and the Last Glacial Maximum, respectively. The associated high d15Ncoll and d34Scoll values found in two specimens indicate the occurrence of areas of high soil activity in a globally cold context. This might correspond to the occupation of refugia in the close surroundings of the Jura region. Such local refugia could explain the capacity of the reindeer to occupy rapidly the newly available territories during phase of glacier retreat. The intensification of the Magdalenian human settlement could have been favored by these local ecosystem expansions.
Article
The natural and stable isotopes of carbon vary in systematic ways largely determined by the photosynthetic pathway (C3 or C4) which fixes atmospheric CO2 into organic matter. Within both C3 and C4 species there is a genetic component to the variation in this ratio which may be as great as 3‰. A variety of environmental factors also affect this ratio in plants. Individual biochemicals differ from each other in their isotopic values. The ratio in bulk plants is transferred to higher trophic levels with reasonable fidelity; however, the collagen-diet spacing is variable and needs to be understood. An appreciation of these sources of variation is necessary as we quantify our diet interpretations.
Article
This is an isotopic study of collagen and bone apatite samples from individuals buried in the 1st–3rd centuries AD cemetery of Isola Sacra on the Mediterranean coast near Rome, Italy. 13C/12C and 15N/14N ratios of collagen and 13C/12C in carbonate of apatite are used to evaluate the dietary history of people ranging in age from 5 to 45+ years. The collagen data are also compared to a smaller skeletal sample from a nearby inland site (ANAS). Sources in Roman literature describe a typical diet of that period characterized by plant-derived foods; typically cereals, legumes, fruits, and vegetables. While individuals from the ANAS site display isotopic compositions consistent with a terrestrial-based diet, many of the skeletons from Isola Sacra are more enriched in 15N and, to a lesser extent, in 13C. We infer that their diet included a significant component of marine foods. Apatite δ13C values show that total dietary carbon intake was dominated by terrestrial foods. The distribution pattern of the δ13C and δ15N data suggest that, while the Isola Sacra people obtained their nitrogen from a mixture of marine and terrestrial proteins, the carbon atoms used to construct non-essential amino acids were derived from the total diet (i.e., proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids).
Article
We have analysed human and animal collagen samples from three geographically and temporally distinct cemeteries at the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt. All sites display strikingly high average values of δ15N: Kellis 1 (Late Ptolemaic–Early Roman period) 18·0 per mil Kellis 2 (Romano-Christian period) 18·0 per mil, and ‘ein Tirghi (Roman period) 17·0 per mil. Rainfall at Dakhleh is essentially zero. The δ15N values for humans and animals lie on the respective quasi-linear relationship between rainfall and δ15N found by Heaton et al . (1986). Data from Dakhleh and other sites suggest that a single linear trend describes the rainfall-δ15N relationship in a wide range of sites. This correlation is believed to be due to a combination of two effects: excretion of excess15N-depleted urea in order to increase osmolality of urine (Ambrose & DeNiro, 1986 a , b) and15N-enrichment in arid-region plants, as a result of15N-enrichment in soils. Higher δ15N values in human consumers were acquired through consumption of animal-derived protein. High δ15N in desert soils may be caused by volatilization of isotopically light ammonia formed during bacterial activity, an effect which increases near to the soil surface.