Palaeoenvironmental modelling of δ(13) C and δ(15) N values in the North Atlantic Islands: understanding past marine resource use.

Autor: Jones JR; School of History, Archaeology and Religion, Cardiff University, Humanities Building, Colum Drive, Cardiff, CF10 3EU, UK. jonesjr11@cardiff.ac.uk, Mulville JA, McGill RA, Evershed RP
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM [Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom] 2012 Oct 30; Vol. 26 (20), pp. 2399-406.
DOI: 10.1002/rcm.6319
Abstrakt: Rationale: Carbon (δ(13) C) and nitrogen (δ(15) N) analysis has been extensively used to investigate the importance of marine foods in the diet of archaeological populations in the North Atlantic Islands; however, few faunal studies exist to aid the interpretation of results. Palaeoenvironmental modelling of δ(13) C and δ(15) N values is crucial in determining whether changes in the stable isotope values are a result of dietary change, rather than temporal or geographical fluctuations in carbon and nitrogen. Investigating faunal dietary behaviour can provide an insight into past foddering and land management strategies.
Methods: Detailed sampling of wild and domestic species for bulk collagen analysis was undertaken in order to characterise geographical variations in δ(13) C and δ(15) N values in the Outer Hebrides and Orkney. Samples from the Neolithic to the Norse period were analysed to assess temporal and geographical variations in δ(13) C and δ(15) N values, in addition to determining the contribution of marine foods to the diet of local fauna.
Results: A δ(15) N shift of 1‰ was observed between the Outer Hebrides and Orkney in the Neolithic and Iron Age. A geographical variation in δ(13) C values was observed in the Norse period between Orkney and the Outer Hebrides. Temporal fluctuations in δ(13) C and δ(15) N values demonstrate variations in foddering practices of sheep in the Outer Hebrides. Pig specimens from the Outer Hebrides demonstrated evidence of marine food consumption in the Iron Age.
Conclusions: Faunal dietary behaviour can act as a vital indicator of the importance of marine resources in the past. Characterisation of faunal δ(13) C and δ(15) N values geographically and temporally is crucial in our interpretation of human dietary behaviour.
(Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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