Current Search: Stable isotope analysis (x)
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- Title
- STABLE ISOTOPE EVIDENCE FOR THE GEOGRAPHIC ORIGINS AND MILITARY MOVEMENT OF NAPOLEONIC SOLIDERS DURING THE MARCH FROM MOSCOW IN 1812.
- Creator
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Pelier, Serenela, Dupras , Tosha, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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In 2001, 3269 unidentified individuals were found in a mass grave on the Northern part of Vilnius, Lithuania. Artifactual context indicates that these individuals were likely soldiers that were a part of Napoleon's Grand Army. Stable oxygen isotope analysis was performed on bone apatite from 9 femoral bone samples to determine whether or not these individuals were Lithuanian locals and to test ratio variation. If individuals were foreigners, then geographical origins were approximated...
Show moreIn 2001, 3269 unidentified individuals were found in a mass grave on the Northern part of Vilnius, Lithuania. Artifactual context indicates that these individuals were likely soldiers that were a part of Napoleon's Grand Army. Stable oxygen isotope analysis was performed on bone apatite from 9 femoral bone samples to determine whether or not these individuals were Lithuanian locals and to test ratio variation. If individuals were foreigners, then geographical origins were approximated utilizing percentages of C4 plants from Holder (2013) and [delta]18O values that were extracted from bone apatite. The carbonate oxygen isotope compositions ([delta]18Ocarbonate) of bone apatite from the femoral samples (-4.4‰ to -6.2‰) indicate that these individuals were from central and western Europe (-4.0‰ to -6.9‰). It is significant that none of the individuals have values consistent with the area around Lithuania (-10.0‰ to -11.9‰), because it means that they all were non-local. It is also indicative that the Lithuanians were not burying their citizens in the grave and therefore strongly support that these individuals were Napoleonic soldiers. Additionally, although C4 percentages in the diet ranged from 17.8% to 31.7%, which overlaps with eastern European consumption patterns (approximately 15% to 25% of C4 plants) (Reitsema et al., 2010), the slight shift towards a higher C4 percentage is more representative of a central and western European diet. These results are significant because they provide stable isotopic evidence that these individuals were Napoleon's soldiers whom participated in the Russian campaign of 1812.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- Identifier
- CFH0004822, ucf:45454
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004822
- Title
- FEEDING THE CHILDREN: A PALEODIETARY RECONSTRUCTION OF JUVENILES FROM KUELAP, PERU.
- Creator
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Denierio, Marley, Toyne, J. Marla, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Before reaching adulthood, every individual experiences a period of dependency, the juvenile period, during which they rely on the older, more experienced members of their society for their security, subsistence and care. This juvenile period is an important stage of life for human physical and physiological development. In bioarchaeology, there has been limited research conducted on juveniles, particularly, the development of their own social identity and influences. The research method of...
Show moreBefore reaching adulthood, every individual experiences a period of dependency, the juvenile period, during which they rely on the older, more experienced members of their society for their security, subsistence and care. This juvenile period is an important stage of life for human physical and physiological development. In bioarchaeology, there has been limited research conducted on juveniles, particularly, the development of their own social identity and influences. The research method of stable carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) isotope analysis is used to reconstruct the paleodiet of juveniles to determine their dietary composition. Specifically, this research is focused on Kuelap, located in the highlands of Peru, a large settlement inhabited from 900-1535 AD, including pre-Inca (900-1469 AD) and Inca periods (1470-1535 AD). The primary aim of this research is to determine if juveniles consumed different foods through different time periods. Another aim of this research is to determine if juveniles were treated differently than their adult counterparts. Bone collagen samples, primarily ribs, from 32 juveniles were analyzed. The average ?13C value for the pre-Inca juveniles was -13.1%, and -13.4% for the Inca period juveniles. There was no statistically significant difference in ?13C values between juvenile groups or between adult and juvenile subsamples. The average ?15N for the pre-Inca juveniles was +8.1% and +7.8% for the Inca period juveniles. The Mann-Whitney U test determined there was not a statistically significant difference in ?15N values between the juvenile burial groups; however, there was a statistically significant difference between the juvenile and adult subgroups. The findings suggest that there may have been preferential treatment toward or metabolic stressors on the juvenile. The results of this study offer insights to availability of dietary components, societal roles based on developmental age stages, and the potential role of parenting in Kuelap.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2018
- Identifier
- CFH2000415, ucf:45758
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000415
- Title
- ESTIMATING DIET AND FOOD SELECTIVITY OF THE LOWER KEYS MARSH RABBIT USING STABLE ISOTOPE ANALYSIS.
- Creator
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Gordon, Matthew, Hoffman, Eric, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Understanding the effect of food abundance on feeding behavior can benefit conservation efforts in many ways, such as to determine whether impacted environments need food supplementation, whether different locations of threatened species contain different food abundances, or whether reintroduction sites are missing key components of a species' diet. I studied the relationship between feeding behavior and food abundance in the Lower Keys marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris hefneri), an...
Show moreUnderstanding the effect of food abundance on feeding behavior can benefit conservation efforts in many ways, such as to determine whether impacted environments need food supplementation, whether different locations of threatened species contain different food abundances, or whether reintroduction sites are missing key components of a species' diet. I studied the relationship between feeding behavior and food abundance in the Lower Keys marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris hefneri), an endangered subspecies endemic to the lower Florida Keys. Specifically, my study set out to measure the relative abundance of the primary plants within the natural habitat of the Lower Keys marsh rabbit and estimate the proportion of each of these plants within the rabbit's diet. With this information, I tested the following hypotheses: first, the Lower Keys marsh rabbit selectively feeds on specific plants; second, that diet does not differ among sites; and third, that diet is not affected by food abundance. Using stable isotope analysis, I determined that two plants were prominent in the rabbit's diet: a shrub, Borrichia frutescens, and a grass, Spartina spartinae. These two species were prominent in the rabbit's diet in most patches, even where they were relatively rare, suggesting the rabbits are indeed selectively feeding on these species. In addition, although diet did differ among patches, selective feeding was apparent in all cases. Overall, this study determined that certain food types are important food sources for the federally endangered Lower Keys marsh rabbit and that these rabbits do not feed on plants based on plant abundance. This knowledge can be directly applied to reintroduction and restoration efforts for the Lower Keys marsh rabbit. More generally, the methods used in this study can be applied to other species of concern in order to address questions associated with diet requirements and foraging behavior.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2010
- Identifier
- CFE0003471, ucf:48952
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003471
- Title
- Interpreting Diet and Nutritional Stress in Napoleon's Grand Army using Stable Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope Analysis.
- Creator
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Holder, Sammantha, Dupras, Tosha, Schultz, John, Williams, Lana, Toyne, Jennifer, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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A mass grave containing the remains of at least 3269 Napoleonic soldiers from 1812 was discovered in Vilnius, Lithuania in 2001. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic analyses were performed on collagen from 78 femoral samples to explore dietary variation within the sample. Starvation and nutritional distress were also evaluated through the examination of nitrogen enrichment in bone collagen. Clinical studies have demonstrated that enriched nitrogen isotope values can indicate periods of...
Show moreA mass grave containing the remains of at least 3269 Napoleonic soldiers from 1812 was discovered in Vilnius, Lithuania in 2001. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic analyses were performed on collagen from 78 femoral samples to explore dietary variation within the sample. Starvation and nutritional distress were also evaluated through the examination of nitrogen enrichment in bone collagen. Clinical studies have demonstrated that enriched nitrogen isotope values can indicate periods of nutritional stress and starvation; however, this is the first study to examine its use as a diagnostic indicator of starvation in a historical population using bone tissue. According to the carbon isotope data, a vast majority of the soldiers in this sample consumed predominantly C3 plants with only five individuals consuming more than 50% of their plant dietary protein in the form of C4 plants, with ?13C ratios for this sample ranging from -19.22‰ to -11.76‰ and a mean of -17.18‰. This conforms to expectations given that a majority of human plant consumption in Europe is C3 pathway plants. Twenty-nine individuals exhibit enriched ?15N values, with ?15N values for this sample ranging from 7.14‰ to 13.63‰ and a mean of 10.49‰. The combination of historical and isotopic evidence suggests prolonged nutritional stress may be the cause of enrichment in this sample. The results of this study demonstrate the applicability of this method on archaeological samples as a line of evidence in the investigation of starvation and famine.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- Identifier
- CFE0005004, ucf:49982
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005004
- Title
- Stable Isotopes and Multiple Tissue Analysis: Reconstructing Life Histories for Individuals from Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt.
- Creator
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Johns, Noel, Dupras, Tosha, Walker, John, Williams, Lana, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Stable isotope analysis is often used to evaluate elements of the lives of past peoples, such as diet and health status, at a societal level. Analysis at an individual level is exceptionally rare, and has not been conducted using a variety of tissues representing both early life and life approximate to death. In this study, ?13C and ?15N isotope signatures are used to create life histories for single individuals from Romano-Christian period Kellis 2 cemetery in the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt....
Show moreStable isotope analysis is often used to evaluate elements of the lives of past peoples, such as diet and health status, at a societal level. Analysis at an individual level is exceptionally rare, and has not been conducted using a variety of tissues representing both early life and life approximate to death. In this study, ?13C and ?15N isotope signatures are used to create life histories for single individuals from Romano-Christian period Kellis 2 cemetery in the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt. Samples are obtained from several different tissues, including tooth dentin, bone collagen, hair, nail, skin, and gut content, all of which have been previously researched, but have not been studied at such an individualistic level. By using data and previous research conducted by Drs. Tosha Dupras and Lana Williams, this research uses isotopic values from the aforementioned tissues, and the differing turnover rates of these tissues, to develop lifetime timetables for 15 individuals (female, male, and juvenile). Results show that individual analysis is possible, informative, and can enlighten researchers not just concerning the individual, but about the population as a whole. The methods presented can serve as a model for reconstructing individual life histories using isotope data from multiple tissues.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- Identifier
- CFE0004216, ucf:49020
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004216
- Title
- Investigations of possible cases of scurvy in juveniles from the Kellis 2 cemetery in the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt, through stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic analysis of multiple tissues.
- Creator
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Chasse, Georgina, Schultz, John, Wheeler, Sandra, Dupras, Tosha, Williams, Lana, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Vitamin C deficiency, or scurvy, is a disease that can occur in humans at any age and has been seen throughout time. Scurvy affects the production of connective tissues, including collagen, which leads to the many symptoms of the disease, including fatigue, anemia, bleeding gums and lost teeth, skeletal changes, and even death. The Kellis 2 cemetery in the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt, in use from approximately AD 50-360, contains the remains of many juveniles who exhibit skeletal indicators of...
Show moreVitamin C deficiency, or scurvy, is a disease that can occur in humans at any age and has been seen throughout time. Scurvy affects the production of connective tissues, including collagen, which leads to the many symptoms of the disease, including fatigue, anemia, bleeding gums and lost teeth, skeletal changes, and even death. The Kellis 2 cemetery in the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt, in use from approximately AD 50-360, contains the remains of many juveniles who exhibit skeletal indicators of scurvy. Tissue samples from juveniles who did (n=31) and did not (n=117) exhibit skeletal indicators of scurvy were analyzed isotopically, with the sample including stable carbon (?13C) and nitrogen (?15N) isotope values of bone collagen (scurvy =11, non-scurvy =13), hair (scurvy=21, non-scurvy=112), nail (scurvy =10, non-scurvy =44), and skin (scurvy =19, non-scurvy =59). Intra-tissue comparisons were conducted to determine whether this disease affects ?13C and ?15N values sufficiently to distinguish these two groups from one another isotopically. Inter-tissue comparisons between bone collagen and hair were also conducted, with emphasis placed on inter-tissue spacing results and outliers. Mean ?13C and ?15N values for each hair segment were compared to look for early isotopic signals of scurvy. No statistically significant differences were found between any intra-tissue scurvy and non-scurvy cohorts and no obvious indications of the onset of scurvy were seen in the hair segment analyses. The inter-tissue spacing results, however, highlighted some interesting patterns in the bone collagen-to-hair values, especially in regards to the identified outliers that are discussed in more detail. While this study did not detect any significant differences between scurvy and non-scurvy cohorts or early isotopic signals of the disease in hair segments, the inter-tissue spacing results do point to changes between the cohorts that may be attributable to the physiological stress of scurvy and therefore warrants further investigation.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2018
- Identifier
- CFE0007164, ucf:52273
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007164
- Title
- Age as a factor in inter-tissue spacing of stable carbon isotope values in juvenile human remains from the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt.
- Creator
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Norris, Annie, Dupras, Tosha, Williams, Lana, Mcintyre, Matthew, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Although stable isotope analysis is routinely utilized in bioarchaeology and relies on principles that are well-understood, there are still fundamental issues that have not been thoroughly investigated. This thesis examines the relationship between inter-tissue spacing of carbon stable isotope values (?13C) and age in juvenile human remains. Analyses of tissues within the same individual reveal disparate isotopic values for a variety of physiological and biological reasons discussed herein....
Show moreAlthough stable isotope analysis is routinely utilized in bioarchaeology and relies on principles that are well-understood, there are still fundamental issues that have not been thoroughly investigated. This thesis examines the relationship between inter-tissue spacing of carbon stable isotope values (?13C) and age in juvenile human remains. Analyses of tissues within the same individual reveal disparate isotopic values for a variety of physiological and biological reasons discussed herein. This project examines the distance between the ?13C values in bone collagen, skin, hair, and nail, and examines how these distances vary between different age groups, utilizing data collected from 52 well-preserved human remains from the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt: 28 individuals between the ages of 1 and 4 years, 14 between 5 and 10 years, and 10 between the ages of 11-15 years. The mean carbon isotope values for each tissue were compared across each age group, and used to calculate the differences between each tissue type. Although distances between tissues were found to vary across all age categories, the distances between collagen and hair, collagen and skin, and collagen and nail are all substantially greater in the 11-15 year old category than those in the 1-4 and 5-10 year categories. Possible physiological, developmental and social factors are discussed in an effort to explain this discrepancy.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- Identifier
- CFE0004418, ucf:49403
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004418
- Title
- Using Biomarkers to Assess the Migratory Ecology and Reproduction of the Florida Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas).
- Creator
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Chabot, Ryan, Mansfield, Kate, Worthy, Graham, Seminoff, Jeffrey, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Migratory connectivity between breeding and foraging areas is a vital component of the ecology of a diverse collection of marine vertebrates. Habitat quality, composition, and resource availability at these locations have direct ramifications for individual fitness. The green turtle (Chelonia mydas) is a long-lived, highly migratory species of conservation concern. Important green turtle nesting habitat in Florida is protected, but more information is needed to identify foraging habitats and...
Show moreMigratory connectivity between breeding and foraging areas is a vital component of the ecology of a diverse collection of marine vertebrates. Habitat quality, composition, and resource availability at these locations have direct ramifications for individual fitness. The green turtle (Chelonia mydas) is a long-lived, highly migratory species of conservation concern. Important green turtle nesting habitat in Florida is protected, but more information is needed to identify foraging habitats and the influence these habitats have on reproduction. Here, I used stable isotope analysis of ?13C, ?15N, and ?34S and satellite telemetry validation to determine the number of putative foraging areas used by the breeding aggregation at the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge (ACNWR), and the relative contribution of each foraging area. I evaluated the influence of foraging area and other variables on egg size, clutch size, hatching success, and emerging success using model selection frameworks. Isotopic values of skin and eggs were used to build conversion equations between the two tissue types. Results suggest strong migratory connectivity between the ACNWR and the Florida Keys/Florida Bay complex. I found that the influences of foraging area are likely to be more detectable when evaluating female-centric fitness metrics like clutch size and egg size; these influences are more muted in hatching and emerging success, which are strongly influenced by nest incubation conditions. These are the first green turtle-specific tissue conversion equations for ?13C and ?15N, and the first ?34S equation for any marine turtle species. These will allow researchers to have a (")common currency(") between frequently collected samples to better compare results.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- Identifier
- CFE0006574, ucf:51314
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006574
- Title
- A PROPOSED METHODOLOGY FOR PREDICTING THE CARBON AND NITROGEN STABLE ISOTOPE MEASURES OF K'INICH YAX K'UK MO', COPAN DYNASTIC FOUNDER.
- Creator
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Edwards, Keith, Chase, Dr. Arlen, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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The purpose of this thesis is to show that stable isotope analysis can be used to predict K'inich Yax K'uk Mo's stable isotope measures based on Stuart's (2007) hypothesis that K'inich Yax K'uk Mo', the dynastic founder of the Copan royal lineage, was a Caracol lord. There is significant and convincing evidence that K'inich Yak K'uk Mo' had a non-Copanec origin. Stable isotope analysis is a tested and reliable method for detailing diets and migratory paths of ancient humans and this theory is...
Show moreThe purpose of this thesis is to show that stable isotope analysis can be used to predict K'inich Yax K'uk Mo's stable isotope measures based on Stuart's (2007) hypothesis that K'inich Yax K'uk Mo', the dynastic founder of the Copan royal lineage, was a Caracol lord. There is significant and convincing evidence that K'inich Yak K'uk Mo' had a non-Copanec origin. Stable isotope analysis is a tested and reliable method for detailing diets and migratory paths of ancient humans and this theory is applied as a predictor of the stable isotope measures of K'inich Yax K'uk Mo', if he did in fact originate in Caracol. The literature is rich with explanations of stable isotopes and the writings of a few stalwarts in the field were utilized to gain an understanding of the associated technologies and techniques utilized in its analysis. Data from the Copan (Whittington and Reed 1997) and Caracol (Chase and Chase 2001) stable isotope studies were utilized to show the application of stable isotope analysis in areas "associated" with K'inich Yax K'uk Mo' and to illustrate how the palace diet identified by Chase and Chase (2001; Chase et al. 2001) could be aligned with the Stuart hypothesis to predict the stable isotope ranges for K'inich Yax K'uk Mo'.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- Identifier
- CFE0003876, ucf:48722
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003876
- Title
- Childhood diet and mobility at medieval (1240s AD) Solt-T(&)#233;telhegy, Hungary as reconstructed from stable carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen isotope analysis.
- Creator
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Gugora, Ariana, Dupras, Tosha, Williams, Lana, Schultz, John, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Between 2005 and 2009, archaeologists excavated more than 100 skeletons from the medieval (1240s AD) Hungarian site of Solt-T(&)#233;telhegy. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses were conducted on dental enamel and dentin from 24 individuals to examine their childhood diet. Although previous stable isotopic research has described the diet of medieval European peoples, this is the first such study on a medieval Hungarian population. The enamel ?13C values range from -14.4‰ to -8.6‰,...
Show moreBetween 2005 and 2009, archaeologists excavated more than 100 skeletons from the medieval (1240s AD) Hungarian site of Solt-T(&)#233;telhegy. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses were conducted on dental enamel and dentin from 24 individuals to examine their childhood diet. Although previous stable isotopic research has described the diet of medieval European peoples, this is the first such study on a medieval Hungarian population. The enamel ?13C values range from -14.4‰ to -8.6‰, with a mean of -11.1‰, while the dentin ?13C values range from -19.4‰ to -14.9‰, with an average of -17.4‰. These data indicate that C3 plants were the main plant type consumed by the majority of this population, with the exception of a few individuals, who appear to have included C4 plants in their diet. These results are to be expected, given the dominance of C3 over C4 plants in medieval Central Europe. Thus, based on historical and isotopic evidence, the outliers may have spent their childhoods elsewhere and later migrated into the Solt-T(&)#233;telhegy area. The ?15N values range from 9.5‰ to 11.6‰, with a mean of 10.6‰, indicating that animal protein was prevalent in the diets of the sample population. Despite clear signs of status differences indicated by burial location, stable nitrogen values also point to relatively egalitarian access to animal protein amongst the individuals. The enamel ?18Op values range from 23.6‰ to 27.2‰, with an average of 25.1‰, suggesting that multiple migrations occurred into the study site. The results of this study show that the dietary and mobility information gleaned from stable isotope analysis can be used to interpret the lifeways of archaeological peoples. ?
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- Identifier
- CFE0005623, ucf:50213
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005623
- Title
- Animals of the cloud forest: isotopic variation of archaeological faunal remains from Kuelap, Peru.
- Creator
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Michell, Samantha, Toyne, J. Marla, Duncan, Neil, Dupras, Tosha, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Stable isotopic analyses of faunal remains are used as a proxy for reconstructing the ancient Chachapoya dietary environment of the northeastern highlands in Peru. Archaeologists have excavated animal remains from refuse piles at the monumental center of Kuelap (AD 900-1535). This archaeological site is located at 3000 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.), where C3 plants dominate the region. The study presented here is one of the few in the Central Andes that uses faunal remains to develop...
Show moreStable isotopic analyses of faunal remains are used as a proxy for reconstructing the ancient Chachapoya dietary environment of the northeastern highlands in Peru. Archaeologists have excavated animal remains from refuse piles at the monumental center of Kuelap (AD 900-1535). This archaeological site is located at 3000 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.), where C3 plants dominate the region. The study presented here is one of the few in the Central Andes that uses faunal remains to develop local isotopic baselines, reconstruct resource exploitation, and provide insight into dietary variation. Bone collagen stable carbon (?13C) and nitrogen (?15N) isotopes are used to investigate animal diets of nine local fauna (Camelidae, Cervidae, Caviidae, Chinchillidae, Cuniculidae, Leporidae, Felidae, Canidae, and Aves). Different taxonomic families were evaluated to explore the range of isotopic variation within and between these animals. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic values of both the wild and domesticated Kuelap faunal samples suggest a diet of both C3 and C4 plant foods. Significant dietary differences were identified between domesticated and wild animals (specifically camelid and cervid), suggesting ecological differences or strategic provisioning from possible domestic C4 crops (maize) by humans. The domesticated camelids displayed a large isotopic variation similar to other highland archaeological studies in Peru, with an average ?13C value of (-)14.13 ‰ and a standard deviation of 2.96. The cervids displayed lower variation than the camelids and had an average carbon value of (-)19.13 ‰ with a standard deviation of 2.38. These are the first faunal isotopic data for the eastern montane region of Chachapoyas and serve as an essential baseline in the evaluation of human subsistence strategies and animal management strategies in the northern Peruvian highlands.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2018
- Identifier
- CFE0007226, ucf:52237
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007226
- Title
- Changes in Neolithic Subsistence Patterns on Flores, Indonesia Inferred by Stable Carbon, Nitrogen, and Oxygen Isotope Analyses of Sus from Liang Bua.
- Creator
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Munizzi, Jordon, Dupras, Tosha, Williams, Lana, Schultz, John, Tocheri, Matthew, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Despite an abundance of archaeological material recovered from sites in Island Southeast Asia, the timing and route by which cultigens first arrived in Wallacea remains unclear. Many of the staple crops now grown on these islands were domesticated in mainland Asia, and were deliberately introduced by humans at an unknown point during the Holocene, through several possible routes. In this study, the ?13C, ?15N and ?18O values of subfossil bones and teeth attributed to Sus celebensis and Sus...
Show moreDespite an abundance of archaeological material recovered from sites in Island Southeast Asia, the timing and route by which cultigens first arrived in Wallacea remains unclear. Many of the staple crops now grown on these islands were domesticated in mainland Asia, and were deliberately introduced by humans at an unknown point during the Holocene, through several possible routes. In this study, the ?13C, ?15N and ?18O values of subfossil bones and teeth attributed to Sus celebensis and Sus scrofa are analyzed. These materials, which span the last 5160 years at Liang Bua, Flores, Indonesia are used to determine if and when there was a shift towards agricultural intensification, and whether this intensification included the integration of domesticated C4 crops. The ?13C and ?15N values of the bone and dentin collagen samples indicate an abrupt shift towards enrichment in 13C and depletion in 15N at some time between 5160 and 2750 yBP. This hints at changes in human subsistence patterns that may have included the clearing of forests, and the integration of non-endemic C4 cultigens such as foxtail millet (Setaria italica) onto the island. No statistically significant variation in the ?18O values of the enamel carbonate samples over time is observed, suggesting that once they appeared on Flores, semi-domesticated pigs became an important part of the island ecosystem, and were bred and raised on Flores instead of being continuously imported from elsewhere.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- Identifier
- CFE0004728, ucf:49820
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004728