87Sr/86Sr in Archeological and Paleobiological Research: A Perspective (original) (raw)
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Journal of …, 2010
Isotopic methods are widely used in archaeology to investigate paleodiet. Here, we present a new method to identify trophic level in archaeological human populations and to investigate paleodiet. We demonstrate that strontium isotope compositions (reported as d 88/86 Sr) vary in a mass-dependent manner with increasing trophic level and can elucidate paleodiet in archaeological human populations. We present new mass-dependent strontium isotope data from tooth enamel and bone from individuals buried during the Late Intermediate Period (c. AD 1000e1300) in the large cemeteries of Chiribaya Alta, Chiribaya Baja, San Gerónimo, and El Yaral in the Ilo and Moquegua Valleys of southern Peru. We compare these data to radiogenic strontium isotope data ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) and light stable isotope data (d 15 N col and d 13 C col ) from the same individuals to investigate geologic variability in strontium sources as well as marine food consumption among the Chiribaya. Our results demonstrate the utility of measurements of strontium isotope fractionation as a new tool for archaeological investigation of paleodiet. Importantly, this new technique can be used to generate paleodietary (d 88/86 Sr) and paleomobility ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) data from the same specimen, minimizing destructive analyses of invaluable archaeological material, and provides a new way to examine paleodiet through hydroxyapatite, which is particularly important when collagen is poorly preserved.
Stable-Isotope Bone Chemistry and Human/Animal Interactions in Historical Archaeology
2012
Stable isotope–based paleodietary work is ideally suited for answering questions about a wide variety of human/animal relationships in historical archaeological contexts in northeastern North America and farther afield. To date, very few published studies have approached historical animal husbandry and trade from an isotopic perspective. We advocate for increased attention to the possibilities of stable-isotope work by (1) explaining why the technique is well suited to address some problems of human/animal relations encountered by historical archaeologists, (2) presenting a literature review of previous stable-isotope work on human/ animal interaction in historical North America, and (3) offering a short case study on the dietary life history of an individual pig raised at the archaeological site of Ferryland, Newfoundland, Canada, based on stable carbon- and nitrogen-isotope data from serially sectioned dental collagen. La reconstitution de l’alimentation passée grâce aux études isotopiques est plus qu’appropriée pour répondre à une variété de questions sur les relations homme-animal en archéologie historique dans le Nord-est américain, ainsi qu’ailleurs dans le monde. À ce jour, très peu d’études publiées se sont penchées sur l’élevage et le commerce des animaux d’un point de vue isotopique. Nous recommandons de porter une attention particulière sur les possibilités qu’offrent les isotopes stables en : 1) expliquant pourquoi la technique est bien adaptée pour répondre à des problèmes concernant les relations homme-animal rencontrés par les archéologues historiques, 2) présentant une revue de la littérature des travaux utilisant les isotopes stables pour mieux comprendre les relations homme-animal en contexte historique nord-américain, et 3) offrant une brève étude de cas sur l’historique de la diète d’un porc découvert sur le site archéologique de Ferryland, Terre-Neuve, Canada, basée sur les données d’isotopes de carbone et d’azote provenant du collagène prélevé en série sur les dents de l’animal.
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 2022
Editorial on the Research Topic A Golden Age for Strontium Isotope Research? Current Advances in Paleoecological and Archaeological Research Building from a session we chaired at the 2019 International Union for Quaternary Research Congress in Dublin, this Research Topic explores advances and new applications in strontium isotope research across paleoecology, archaeology, and allied fields. These contributions encompass the range of current research, the latest developments, and future potentials of this rapidly advancing research area. With authors from the fields of archaeology, anthropology, geology, geochemistry, and ecology, the multidisciplinary relevance of modern strontium isotope analyses of biological materials is clear. The scope of the papers is also vast, with international research teams presenting work from Madagascar, the USA, Canada, the Peruvian and Southern Andes, China, the Levant, Western Europe and Scandinavia, and a temporal range spanning from the Neolithic up to the present. Papers by Weber et al. and Snoeck et al. present novel experimental studies sensu stricto: A controlled feeding study using rodents, and the evaluation of artificially-treated wood samples, respectively. In their study, Weber et al. found differences in the time it took for cohorts of rats to reach tissue equilibrium after a dietary switch, as well as time-lags along the growth axis of their teeth. They also found inter-specific differences in equilibration time when individuals were fed new diets. There was a measurable influence of both drinking water and kaolin dust on rodent enamel, shifting enamel strontium isotope ratios (87 Sr/ 86 Sr) toward these additive sources. These authors go on to speculate that some diet-tissue 87 Sr/ 86 Sr differences may reflect bioavailable components of diet differing from bulk 87 Sr/ 86 Sr-an idea supported by subsequent acid leaching tests on food samples designed to mimic the rodents' digestive tracts. These findings contribute significantly to our understanding of bioavailable 87 Sr/ 86 Sr assimilation and complement the few previous controlled feeding studies (e.g.,
Journal of Archaeological Science
The use of stable isotope ratio analysis in archaeology has exploded over the past few decades to the point where it is now an established tool that is routinely used to investigate questions relating to diet and mobility. Early applications focused mostly on the analysis of human skeletal tissues as a way to reconstruct major shifts in human diet, but current stable isotopic approaches have expanded to include high resolution analyses of human, animal, and plant remains, which are helping to better define the resource exploitation and management strategies that underscore changes in the human diet. In addition, stable isotopic data sets are now regularly filtered through interpretive archaeological theoretical frameworks to explore socially mediated food acquisition and consumption choices, mortuary practices, and social identity. Much work remains to be done in documenting the biological and ecological variation in the distribution of stable isotopes in ancient food webs and the mechanisms responsible for the isotopic signals observed in archaeological plant and animal tissues. Here, we identify several areas in stable isotope analysis where additional 'first principles' driven research would help to improve existing isotopic methods, or develop new ones, and consequently improve our ability to answer questions of archaeological significance. We consider the strengths and limitations of the application of stable isotope analysis to ancient skeletal material obtained from archaeological contexts. We also pay particular attention to nitrogen isotopic variation in ancient ecosystems, organic oxygen and hydrogen isotopes to;mixing models as a means of estimating source contributions in human diet, mobility, and isoscapes; and to how compound specific analyses may help detangle dietary routing. We conclude with a plea for greater scientific rigour and more informed use of stable isotope analyses and call for a closer integration of stable isotope analysis with other aspects of archaeological research programmes, in order to optimise the information that isotopes can provide.
Journal of Archaeological Science, 2010
Isotopic methods are widely used in archaeology to investigate paleodiet. Here, we present a new method to identify trophic level in archaeological human populations and to investigate paleodiet. We demonstrate that strontium isotope compositions (reported as d 88/86 Sr) vary in a mass-dependent manner with increasing trophic level and can elucidate paleodiet in archaeological human populations. We present new mass-dependent strontium isotope data from tooth enamel and bone from individuals buried during the Late Intermediate Period (c. AD 1000e1300) in the large cemeteries of Chiribaya Alta, Chiribaya Baja, San Gerónimo, and El Yaral in the Ilo and Moquegua Valleys of southern Peru. We compare these data to radiogenic strontium isotope data ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) and light stable isotope data (d 15 N col and d 13 C col ) from the same individuals to investigate geologic variability in strontium sources as well as marine food consumption among the Chiribaya. Our results demonstrate the utility of measurements of strontium isotope fractionation as a new tool for archaeological investigation of paleodiet. Importantly, this new technique can be used to generate paleodietary (d 88/86 Sr) and paleomobility ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) data from the same specimen, minimizing destructive analyses of invaluable archaeological material, and provides a new way to examine paleodiet through hydroxyapatite, which is particularly important when collagen is poorly preserved.
Potential of non-traditional isotope studies for bioarchaeology
As a consequence of recent developments in mass spectrometry, the application of non-traditional stable isotope systems (e.g. Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Sr, Zn) as well as radiogenic isotopes to archaeological materials is now possible. These techniques have opened new perspectives in bioarchaeology and can provide information on metabolism, diet and the mobility of past individuals. This review demonstrates this potential and describes the principle of these new analytical approaches. In addition, we emphasize how the Bnon-traditional^ stable isotope systems compare and contrast with classic isotopic analyses.
2005. Stable isotopes and faunal bones. Comments on Milner et al. (2004)
One of the first applications of stable isotope analysis in archaeology was aimed at the investigation of dietary changes between Mesolithic and Neolithic times in northern Europe (Tauber 1981). Since then, important isotopic research related to this topic has been carried out using samples from different regions (i.e. Lubell et al. 1994; Richards & Hedges 1999; Richards et al. 2003). The degree to which the transition from the Mesolithic to the Neolithic implied an abrupt subsistence change, accompanied by an almost complete abandonment of marine resources, has been questioned in recent debate (Bailey & Milner 2002; Hedges 2004; Lid´en et al. 2004; Milner et al. 2004). In this note, we amplify some of the caveats already expressed there regarding the comparison of faunal and isotopic data (see also Parkington 2001), and we suggest a number of methodological issues that could be taken into account in order to validate the comparisons. Some of these are also important for the integration with other kinds of archaeological data (i.e. distributions of artefacts).
2008
This review charts the developments and progress made in the application of stable light isotope tools to palaeodietary adaptations from the 1970s onwards. It begins with an outline of the main principles governing the distribution of stable light isotopes in foodwebs and the quality control issues specific to the calcified tissues used in these analyses, and then proceeds to describe the historical landmark studies that have marked major progress, either in their archaeological applications or in enhancing our understanding of the tools. They include the adoption of maize agriculture, marine-focused diets amongst coastal huntergatherers, trophic level amongst Glacial-period modern humans and Neanderthals, and the use of savannah resources by early hominins in Africa. Particular attention is given to the progress made in addressing the challenges that have arisen out of these studies, including issues related to the routing of dietary nutrients. I conclude with some firm, and some more speculative, pointers about where the field may be heading in the next decade or so.