Reconstruction of African human diet using bone collagen carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios

Nature ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 319 (6051) ◽  
pp. 321-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanley H. Ambrose ◽  
Michael J. DeNiro
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Isotope ◽  
Isotope Ratios ◽  
Bone Collagen ◽  
Human Diet ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen

How ‘Best’ to Determine Trophic Levels in Archaeological Agricultural Communities

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Reynard
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Trophic Level ◽  
Nitrogen Isotope ◽  
Isotope Ratios ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Bone Collagen ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen ◽  
Agricultural Communities ◽  
Plant Remains ◽  
Isotope System

Stable isotope ratios of bone collagen have been used to determine trophic levels in diverse archaeological populations. The longest established and arguably most successful isotope system has been nitrogen, followed by carbon, and more recently hydrogen. These trophic level proxies rely on a predictable change in isotope ratio with each trophic level step; however, this requirement may not always be met, which can lead to difficulties in interpreting archaeological evidence. In agricultural communities, in particular, there are several possible complications to the interpretation of nitrogen and carbon isotopes. Recent approaches to overcome these limitations include better quantification and understanding of the influences on consumer isotope ratios; inclusion of evidence from plant remains; further investigation of apatite δ13C—collagen δ13C spacing in bones; measurement of carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios in individual amino acids, rather than collagen; and development of other stable isotope proxies for trophic level, such as hydrogen isotopes.

Stable Carbon- and Nitrogen-Isotope Ratios of Bone Collagen Used to Study Coral-Reef and Terrestrial Components of Prehistoric Bahamian Diet

1988 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 320-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
William F. Keegan ◽  
Michael J. DeNiro
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Nitrogen Isotopes ◽  
Nitrogen Isotope ◽  
Isotope Ratios ◽  
Isotopic Signature ◽  
Bone Collagen ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Stable Carbon ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen ◽  
Consumption Practices

Previous studies have demonstrated that stable carbon- and nitrogen-isotope ratios of bone collagen can be used to distinguish marine and terrestrial components of prehistoric human diet. However, when this method was first applied to prehistoric Bahamians, their bone-collagen nitrogen-isotope ratios were found to be outside the ranges observed for other coastal populations that ate substantial quantities of marine foods. This study examines in detail the distributions of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in Bahamian food chains. Our results indicate that the unique isotopic signature in bone collagen of prehistoric Bahamians reflects the enrichment of 13C and the depletion of 15N in seagrass and coral-reef communities relative to other oceanic environments. The results also demonstrate that bone-collagen 13C/12C ratios can be used to distinguish marine from terrestrial contributions in the prehistoric Lucayan Taino diet, and that 15N/14N ratios serve to identify the use of certain marine food groups. This approach should prove useful for the study of consumption practices in other tropical coral-reef environments and as a method for evaluating theoretically predicted optimal diets.

An assessment of long-term food habits of Tsavo elephants based on stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios of bone collagen

1989 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 219-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. L. TIESZEN ◽  
T. W. BOUTTON ◽  
W. K. OTTICHILO ◽  
D. E. NELSON ◽  
D. H. BRANDT
Keyword(s):  
Food Habits ◽  
Nitrogen Isotope ◽  
Isotope Ratios ◽  
Bone Collagen ◽  
Stable Carbon ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen

Effect of heating on the stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios of bone collagen

1985 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Deniro ◽  
Margaret J. Schoeninger ◽  
Christine A. Hastorf
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Isotope ◽  
Isotope Ratios ◽  
Bone Collagen ◽  
Stable Carbon ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen

A carbon and nitrogen isotope perspective on ancient human diet in the British Isles

2022 ◽  
Vol 137 ◽  
pp. 105516
Author(s):  
Michael I. Bird ◽  
Jordahna Haig ◽  
Sean Ulm ◽  
Christopher Wurster
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Isotope ◽  
British Isles ◽  
Human Diet ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen

scholarly journals Ecological aspects of carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios of cyanobacteria

2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 135-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eitaro Wada ◽  
Kaori Ohki ◽  
Shinya Yoshikawa ◽  
Patrick L. Parker ◽  
Chase Van Baalen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Isotope ◽  
Isotope Ratios ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen ◽  
Ecological Aspects
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