Stable Isotope Analysis

Marked in Life and Death: Identifying Biological Markers of Social Differentiation in Late Prehistoric Portugal

by Anna Waterman

PhD Thesis. Completed in the Spring of 2012

This dissertation research is a bioarchaeological investigation of Late Neolithic through Early Bronze Age (3600-1800... more This dissertation research is a bioarchaeological investigation of Late Neolithic through Early Bronze Age (3600-1800 BC) burial populations from the Portuguese Estremadura. In this project macroscopic and isotopic analyses of skeletal and dental materials are used to gather information pertaining to diet, health status, and inter-lifetime mobility patterns for individuals interred at different burials within a small geographic area with the goal of evaluating the level of social differentiation in the region. The archaeological record for the transition between the Late Neolithic and the Early Bronze Age in southwestern Portugal demonstrates clear evidence of the rise of a socially-complex, non-state society. During the Early Bronze Age, however, this region underwent a period of social ‘devolution’ which cumulated in widespread settlement abandonment. To date, it is unclear to what extent sociopolitical or environmental factors contributed to this social collapse. This study seeks to expand our knowledge of social differentiation in the Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age of the Estremadura region of Portugal and provide insight into social structure during the emergence and collapse of early complex societies in Iberia.
The results of this study found that there were statistically significant differences in dietary, mobility and demographic patterns between burials that suggest socially distinct populations were interred at different sites. In particular, one burial site, Cova da Moura, diverged significantly from the other sampled burial populations. However, based upon the data presented here, it was not possible to tie these biological markers of differentiation to particular aspects of Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age social organization. Therefore, while this study successfully identified differences between burial populations, at this time, it is not possibly to relate these to particular hierarchical structures. It is suggested that aspects of burial practices in the region confound biologically-based investigations of social organization in a similar way that they have impeded researchers’ abilities to identify elite versus non-elite individuals through grave goods alone. Nonetheless, despite these obstacles, this work provides strong evidence of population heterogeneity in the region, and has implications for our understanding of the evolution of complex societies in the Iberian Peninsula and elsewhere.

Preliminary geochemical data on shallow marine mollusc from middle Pleistocene-Holocene beach ridges in the gulf of S. Jorge (Patagonia, Argentina)

by Ilaria Consoloni

Ilaria Consoloni, Giovanni Zanchetta, Marina L. Aguirre, Ilaria Baneschi, Gabriella M. Boretto, Luigi Dallai, Massimo D’Orazio, Anthony E. Fallick, Ilaria Isola, and Marta Pappalardo, Adriano Ribolini. Geophysical Research Abstracts Vol. 12, EGU2010-14649, 2010 EGU General Assembly 2010

Stable isotope analysis of Late Upper Palaeolithic human and faunal remains from Grotta del Romito (Cosenza), Italy

by Andre Carlo Colonese

Mesolithic shellfish exploitation in SW Italy: seasonal evidence from the oxygen isotopic composition of Osilinus turbinatus shells

by Andre Carlo Colonese

Stable isotope composition of Late Pleistocene-Holocene Eobania vermiculata (Müller, 1774) (Pulmonata, Stylommatophora) shells from the Central Mediterranean basin: Data from Grotta d’Oriente (Favignana, Sicily)

by Andre Carlo Colonese

Stable isotope composition of Helix ligata (Müller, 1774) from Late Pleistocene–Holocene archaeological record from Grotta della Serratura (Southern Italy): Palaeoclimatic implications

by Andre Carlo Colonese

GEOCHEMICAL AND PETROGRAPHICAL ANALYSES FOR SELECTING QUATERNARY MARINE SHELLS FOR RADIOMETRIC DATING AND PALEOCLIMATE RECONSTRUCTIONS: EXAMPLES FROM PATAGONIA

by Ilaria Consoloni

Ilaria Consoloni, Giovanni Zanchetta, Marina L. Aguirre, Ilaria Baneschi, Monica Bini, Gabriella M. Boretto, Luigi Dallai, Massimo D’Orazio, Anthony E. Fallick, Massimo Guidi, John C. Hellstrom, Ilaria Isola, Enrique Fucks, Francesco Mazzarini, Marta Pappalardo & Adriano Ribolini. Il Quaternario 24, 208-210.

ABSTRACT: Consoloni I. et al., Geochemical and petrographical analyses for selecting Quaternary marine shells for more ABSTRACT: Consoloni I. et al., Geochemical and petrographical analyses for selecting Quaternary marine shells for
radiometric dating and paleoclimate reconstructions: examples from Patagonia. (IT ISSN 0394-3356, 2011)
The selection of suitable samples is a fundamental target in order to obtain reliable results in the field of radiometric
dating and paleoclimate. Marine molluscs are particularly interesting in this respect in what different radiometric
methods (e.g. U/Th, ESR) can be applied coupled with chemical analyses to reconstruct past environment. For this kind
of material is imperative that the samples have not undergone any alteration. We present, as example, the study of
marine molluscs from Quaternary beach ridges from the Atlantic Patagonian coast. Multiproxy analyses show that the
degree of weathering is quite variable but not enough for undermining the paleoclimatic values of the stable isotopes
content and of some trace element, but enough severe to make problematic the application of U/Th dating methods.
However, the careful petrographic observation and trace element analyses can support the selection of suitable
samples for U/Th dating.

Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry of Seabird Guano Fertilization: Results from Growth Chamber Studies with Maize (Zea mays)

by Paul Szpak

Szpak P., F. J. Longstaffe, J.-F. Millaire, C. D. White. 2012. Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry of Seabird Guano Fertilization: Results from Growth Chamber Studies with Maize (Zea mays). PLoS One 7: e33741.

Background
Stable isotope analysis is being utilized with increasing regularity to examine a wide range of issues... more Background
Stable isotope analysis is being utilized with increasing regularity to examine a wide range of issues (diet, habitat use, migration) in ecology, geology, archaeology, and related disciplines. A crucial component to these studies is a thorough understanding of the range and causes of baseline isotopic variation, which is relatively poorly understood for nitrogen (δ15N). Animal excrement is known to impact plant δ15N values, but the effects of seabird guano have not been systematically studied from an agricultural or horticultural standpoint.


Methodology/Principal Findings
This paper presents isotopic (δ13C and δ15N) and vital data for maize (Zea mays) fertilized with Peruvian seabird guano under controlled conditions. The level of 15N enrichment in fertilized plants is very large, with δ15N values ranging between 25.5 and 44.7‰ depending on the tissue and amount of fertilizer applied; comparatively, control plant δ15N values ranged between −0.3 and 5.7‰. Intraplant and temporal variability in δ15N values were large, particularly for the guano-fertilized plants, which can be attributed to changes in the availability of guano-derived N over time, and the reliance of stored vs. absorbed N. Plant δ13C values were not significantly impacted by guano fertilization. High concentrations of seabird guano inhibited maize germination and maize growth. Moreover, high levels of seabird guano greatly impacted the N metabolism of the plants, resulting in significantly higher tissue N content, particularly in the stalk.

Conclusions/Significance
The results presented in this study demonstrate the very large impact of seabird guano on maize δ15N values. The use of seabird guano as a fertilizer can thus be traced using stable isotope analysis in food chemistry applications (certification of organic inputs). Furthermore, the fertilization of maize with seabird guano creates an isotopic signature very similar to a high-trophic level marine resource, which must be considered when interpreting isotopic data from archaeological material.

Aszód – Papi-földek késő neolitikus lelőhelyen feltárt kagylóékszerek származási helyének meghatározása stabilizotóp-geokémiai módszerrel [Stable isotope geochemical provenance study of shell ornaments from Aszód – Papi-földek]

by Fotis Ifantidis

Co-authored with Kalicz Nándor, Siklósi Zsuzsanna, Schöll-Barna Gabriella, Bajnóczi Bernadett, George H. Hourmouziadis, Aikaterini Kyparissi-Apostolika, Maria Pappa, Rena Veropoulidou, Christina Ziota.
Published in Környezet – Ember – Kultúra: A természettudományok és a régészet párbeszéde [Environment – Human – Culture: Dialogue between applied sciences and archaeology] (ed. A. Kreiter Attila, Á. Peto &  B. Tugya): 317-326. Budapest: Hungarian National Museum Centre for National Cultural Heritage (2012).

Determination of the provenance of Spondylus objects is essential for the interpretation of Late Neolithicmore Determination of the provenance of Spondylus objects is essential for the interpretation of Late Neolithic
exchange systems and the social role of shell ornaments. Stable isotope analysis was performed on ornaments
(beads, bracelets) excavated at Aszód – Papi-földek archaeological site to defi ne the source of Spondylus shells.
For comparison Spondylus artefacts from Neolithic sites of Greece, modern shells from the Aegean and the Adriatic
Seas, as well as fossil Spondylus and Ostrea shells from the Carpathian Basin were analysed.
Oxygen isotope composition of Spondylus artefacts from Aszód ranges between -1.9 and 2.1‰ and overlaps
with the isotope range of artefacts from other Neolithic sites. Modern shells both from the Aegean and the Adriatic
Seas show overlapping δ18O values with the Neolithic objects, therefore the Spondylus shells at Aszód can have
Aegean or Adriatic origin.
Based on earlier strontium isotope analysis the use of fossil Spondylus shells was excluded, however, the notion
of fossil shell use has recently been emerged again. The artefacts from Aszód and the fossil oyster shells exhibit
overlapping oxygen isotope values, however, the Spondylus objects retained their original aragonite material and
no diagenetic calcite was detected suggesting that the studied ornaments were made of recent shells. Crystalline
aragonite stripes and calcitic parts observed in the artefacts are not related to fossilisation.
Considerable number of limestone beads was found among Spondylus ornaments; according to stable isotope
analysis they were made of non-marine limestone probably of local origin.

Investigating diagenesis and the suitability of porcine enamel for strontium (87Sr/86Sr) isotope analysis.

by Richard Madgwick

MADGWICK, R., MULVILLE, J. and EVANS, J., 2012. Investigating diagenesis and the suitability of porcine enamel for strontium (87Sr/86Sr) isotope analysis Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry 27: 733-742.

Population origins, animal movements, and the presence of non-local individuals have all been addressed through the... more Population origins, animal movements, and the presence of non-local individuals have all been addressed through the analysis of strontium isotope ratios in dental tissues. There has been extensive research regarding the preservation of biogenic Sr in various human tissues: bone, tooth enamel and
dentine, but little into non-human species. The applicability of this methodology to pigs in particular may be problematic with some studies considering there to be no differences between porcine and human enamel and others suggesting differences do exist. As a result it remains unclear whether porcine enamel is more susceptible to diagenetic processes and re-equilibration with diagenetic fluids from the local burial environment. Whilst several programmes of strontium isotope analysis have included pig enamel samples, very few have produced samples of allocthonous origin and the validity of the technique for reconstructing movement of pigs remains in question. This study tests the validity of using strontium isotope ratios in porcine enamel for tracking the movement of pigs in two ways. Firstly,
the susceptibility of modern and archaeological pig and cattle teeth to diagenetic changes was assessed by submerging enamel samples in a solution of known strontium isotope composition for a period of up to 10 months and measuring the level of uptake as a proxy for diagenetic alteration. Secondly, the
strontium isotope ratios of porcine enamel samples from five archaeological assemblages, identified as likely to contain imported, non-local pigs, were analysed to determine whether individuals that are allocthonous in origin could be identified.

Analyses isotopiques du carbone (13C) du collagène des restes de faune de Reute-Schorrenried

by Dorothée Drucker

Tribal elite in EBA Unetice culture

by Dalia Pokutta

Info.FI conference June 2012 Århus

Fish Bone Chemistry and Ultrastructure: Implications for Taphonomy and Stable Isotope Analysis

by Paul Szpak

Szpak, P. 2011. Fish Bone Chemistry and Ultrastructure: Implications for Taphonomy and Stable Isotope Analysis. Journal of Archaeological Science 38, 3358-3372.

Abstract
This paper reviews the ultrastructure and chemistry of fish bone, with an emphasis on zooarchaeology and... more Abstract
This paper reviews the ultrastructure and chemistry of fish bone, with an emphasis on zooarchaeology and stable isotope analysis. On the basis of the chemical composition of the collagen and the relationships between the collagen and mineral phases, fish bone is more susceptible to biotic and abiotic degradation than mammalian bone and is therefore less likely to be recovered in archaeological deposits. The amino acid composition of fish bone differs from that of mammals (and other taxonomic groups), most notably with respect to hydroxyproline content. The C:N ratio of fish collagen, however, is very similar and slightly lower than mammalian collagen, and thus the traditional range of acceptable C:N ratios for collagen (2.9−3.6) should not be shifted or extended for fish on the basis of the amino acid composition of collagen. An extensive survey of published archaeological bone collagen C:N ratios demonstrates that fish collagen from archaeological contexts tends to have significantly higher C:N ratios than mammalian collagen. The elevated C:N ratios in fish bone collagen may be the result of abiotic degradation processes that occur within the bone after death, the presence of exogenous humic contaminants, or endogenous lipid contaminants.

The First Settlers of Iceland: An Isotopic Approach to Colonisation

by Hildur Gestsdóttir

Co-authored with T.D. Price. Published in Antiquity 80: 130-144, 2006

The colonisation of the North Atlantic from the eighth century AD was the earliest expansion of European populations... more The colonisation of the North Atlantic from the eighth century AD was the earliest expansion of European populations to the west. Norse and Celtic voyagers are recorded as reaching and settling
in Iceland, Greenland and easternmost North America between c. AD 750 and 1000, but the date of these events and the homeland of the colonists are subjects of some debate. In this project, the birthplaces of 90 early burials from Iceland were sought using strontium isotope analysis. At least nine, and probably thirteen, of these individuals can be distinguished as migrants to Iceland from other places. In addition, there are clear differences to be seen in the diets of the local Icelandic peoples, ranging from largely terrestrial to largely marine consumption.

Children in EBA Unetice culture

by Dalia Pokutta

Info. Forging Identities Conference June Århus 2012

Ambiente naturale e strategie agroalimentari in Puglia settentrionale tra tardo antico e alto medioevo: l’esempio di Faragola (FG)

by Valentina Caracuta

Caracuta V. 2011. Journal of Post-Classical  Archaeology 1, 275-295.

STUDYING ANCIENT CROP PROVENANCE: IMPLICATIONS FROM δ13C AND δ15N OF CHARRED BARLEY IN A MIDDLE BRONZE AGE SILO AT EBLA (NW SYRIA)

by Valentina Caracuta

Published in Rapid Communications in Mass Spectromentry 6, 327.
Co-authored with Girolamo Fiorentino, Grazia Casiello, Francesco Longobardi, Antonio Sacco,

The discovery of a storeroom full of barley and other cereals (L.9512) in the proto-historic site of Ebla has provided... more The discovery of a storeroom full of barley and other cereals (L.9512) in the proto-historic site of Ebla has provided a unique opportunity to study the early city-state’s centralized storage system from a different perspective. Epigraphic evidence available within the site reveals a complex system of taxation which included gathering grain tributes from satellite sites and redistributing semi-finished products such as flour. In this paper, we intend to explore the possibilities of a combined approach, based on estimated barley grain volumes and δ13C-δ15N analyses. This approach is used to distinguish between grain from different harvesting sites and to identify any grain cultivated using special agricultural practices (e.g. manuring or irrigation). The basic assumption for this kind of analysis is that the growth-site conditions, natural or anthropogenic, of harvested cereals are reflected in their grain size and δ13C-δ15N values. Since the remains found in the storeroom were charred, the first task was to evaluate the effect of carbonization on the δ13C-δ15N and the size of the grains. Thus, the effect of charring was tested on modern samples of Syrian barley landraces. Once ascertained that fresh grains reduced to charred remains retain their original biometric and isotopic traits, the ancient material was examined. 13 groups were identified, each characterized by a specific average volume and specific carbon and nitrogen values. The analysis revealed that what had first appeared to be a homogeneous concentration of grain was in fact an assemblage of barley harvested from different sites .

Reconstructing the paleoenvironment of East Central Europe in the Late Pleistocene using the oxygen and carbon isotopic signal of tooth in large mammal remains

by János Kovács

Kovács et al. published in 'Quaternary International'

Stable carbon and oxygen isotope values (δ13C, δ18O) of structural carbonate were determined in the bioapatite... more Stable carbon and oxygen isotope values (δ13C, δ18O) of structural carbonate were determined in the bioapatite component of fossil teeth from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. Oxygen isotope compositions of enamel and dentin samples provide new quantitative records of the Late Pleistocene climate in East Central Europe (ECE). These δ18O data were combined with records of oxygen isotope values of recent and paleogroundwaters to study the spatial patterns and temporal variations in the oxygen isotope composition of precipitation and the thermal climate over ECE. The new isotopic data suggest that surface air temperatures in the study region between 33 and 12 ka were 2–9°C colder than present. Specimens of woolly mammoth, rhino and horse from the Late Pleistocene were primarily C3 grazers.

The Potential of Bulk δ13C on Encrusted Cooking Residues as Independent Evidence for Regional Maize Histories

by John P. Hart

Co-authored with William A. Lovis, Robert J. Jeske, and John D. Richards. 2012. American Antiquity 77(2):315-325.

The histories of maize utilization in eastern North America have been substantially revised recently, primarily... more The histories of maize utilization in eastern North America have been substantially revised recently, primarily because of the analysis of charred cooking residues encrusted on pottery. A multifaceted research strategy of bulk δ13C assays coupled with accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon data and microbotanical evidence can yield coherent regional maize use histories. Bulk δ13C assay interpretation complications include (1) variations among vessels by site, (2) a potential for false negatives, and (3) a wide range of variation potentially present for any given time period. Regional histories using this approach can be quite variable without appropriate use of multiple lines of evidence.

Dietary Heterogeneity among Western Industrialized Countries Reflected in the Stable Isotope Ratios of Human Hair

by Luciano Valenzuela

PLoS ONE

Although the globalization of food production is often assumed to result in a homogenization of consumption patterns... more Although the globalization of food production is often assumed to result in a homogenization of consumption patterns with a convergence towards a Western style diet, the resources used to make global food products may still be locally produced (glocalization). Stable isotope ratios of human hair can quantify the extent to which residents of industrialized nations have converged on a standardized diet or whether there is persistent heterogeneity and glocalization among countries as a result of different dietary patterns and the use of local food products. Here we report isotopic differences among carbon, nitrogen and sulfur isotope ratios of human hair collected in thirteen Western European countries and in the USA. European hair samples had significantly lower δ13C values (-22.7 to -18.3 ‰), and significantly higher δ15N (7.8 to 10.3 ‰) and δ34S (4.8 to 8.3 ‰) values than samples from the USA (δ13C: -21.9 to -15.0 ‰, δ15N: 6.7 to 9.9 ‰, δ34S: -1.2 to 9.9 ‰). Within Europe, we detected differences in hair δ13C and δ34S values among countries and covariation of isotope ratios with latitude and longitude. This geographic structuring of isotopic data suggests heterogeneity in the food resources used by citizens of industrialized nations and supports the presence of different dietary patterns within Western Europe despite globalization trends. Here we showed the potential of stable isotope analysis as a population-wide tool for dietary screening, particularly as a complement of dietary surveys, that can provide additional information on assimilated macronutrients and independent verification of data obtained by those self-reporting instruments.

Key words: Hair protein, stable isotopes, Western Europe, dietary heterogeneity, glocalization, globalization.