Stable hydrogen isotopes of bone collagen in palaeodietary and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction

L. M. Reynard; R. E.M. Hedges

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2007.12.004

Stable hydrogen isotopes of bone collagen in palaeodietary and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction

L. M. Reynard
, R. E.M. Hedges

Geosciences Department

University of Oxford

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

96 Scopus citations

Abstract

The stable hydrogen isotope ratios (δD) of bone collagen in archaeological human and animal samples demonstrate a trophic level effect, with increasing δD from herbivores to omnivores to humans, in steps of 10-30‰. In addition the archaeological sites studied (Yarnton, Eton Rowing Lake, Danebury Environs-Suddern Farm, and Windmill Hill in the UK, Balatonszárszó in Hungary, and Huari in Peru) demonstrate geographical variation in δD. The detection of manuring in prehistory by comparison of δ¹⁵N to δD values in humans and a local herbivore (cattle) is also considered. This work is the first to measure δD in a large number and range of archaeological samples, with several animal species and humans. It demonstrates unequivocally that δD is different between species in ancient material, increasing from herbivores to omnivores to carnivores.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1934-1942
Number of pages	9
Journal	Journal of Archaeological Science
Volume	35
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2007.12.004
State	Published - Jul 2008

Keywords

Bone
Collagen
Hydrogen
Palaeoclimate
Palaeodiet
Stable isotopes
Trophic level

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10.1016/j.jas.2007.12.004

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title = "Stable hydrogen isotopes of bone collagen in palaeodietary and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction",

abstract = "The stable hydrogen isotope ratios (δD) of bone collagen in archaeological human and animal samples demonstrate a trophic level effect, with increasing δD from herbivores to omnivores to humans, in steps of 10-30‰. In addition the archaeological sites studied (Yarnton, Eton Rowing Lake, Danebury Environs-Suddern Farm, and Windmill Hill in the UK, Balatonsz{\'a}rsz{\'o} in Hungary, and Huari in Peru) demonstrate geographical variation in δD. The detection of manuring in prehistory by comparison of δ15N to δD values in humans and a local herbivore (cattle) is also considered. This work is the first to measure δD in a large number and range of archaeological samples, with several animal species and humans. It demonstrates unequivocally that δD is different between species in ancient material, increasing from herbivores to omnivores to carnivores.",

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T1 - Stable hydrogen isotopes of bone collagen in palaeodietary and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction

AU - Reynard, L. M.

AU - Hedges, R. E.M.

PY - 2008/7

Y1 - 2008/7

N2 - The stable hydrogen isotope ratios (δD) of bone collagen in archaeological human and animal samples demonstrate a trophic level effect, with increasing δD from herbivores to omnivores to humans, in steps of 10-30‰. In addition the archaeological sites studied (Yarnton, Eton Rowing Lake, Danebury Environs-Suddern Farm, and Windmill Hill in the UK, Balatonszárszó in Hungary, and Huari in Peru) demonstrate geographical variation in δD. The detection of manuring in prehistory by comparison of δ15N to δD values in humans and a local herbivore (cattle) is also considered. This work is the first to measure δD in a large number and range of archaeological samples, with several animal species and humans. It demonstrates unequivocally that δD is different between species in ancient material, increasing from herbivores to omnivores to carnivores.

AB - The stable hydrogen isotope ratios (δD) of bone collagen in archaeological human and animal samples demonstrate a trophic level effect, with increasing δD from herbivores to omnivores to humans, in steps of 10-30‰. In addition the archaeological sites studied (Yarnton, Eton Rowing Lake, Danebury Environs-Suddern Farm, and Windmill Hill in the UK, Balatonszárszó in Hungary, and Huari in Peru) demonstrate geographical variation in δD. The detection of manuring in prehistory by comparison of δ15N to δD values in humans and a local herbivore (cattle) is also considered. This work is the first to measure δD in a large number and range of archaeological samples, with several animal species and humans. It demonstrates unequivocally that δD is different between species in ancient material, increasing from herbivores to omnivores to carnivores.

KW - Bone

KW - Collagen

KW - Hydrogen

KW - Palaeoclimate

KW - Palaeodiet

KW - Stable isotopes

KW - Trophic level

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/43249111757

U2 - 10.1016/j.jas.2007.12.004

DO - 10.1016/j.jas.2007.12.004

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:43249111757

SN - 0305-4403

VL - 35

SP - 1934

EP - 1942

JO - Journal of Archaeological Science

JF - Journal of Archaeological Science

IS - 7

ER -

Stable hydrogen isotopes of bone collagen in palaeodietary and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction

Abstract

Keywords

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