An investigation into the archaeological application of carbon stable isotope analysis used to establish crop water availability: solutions and ways forward

Carbon stable isotope analysis of cereal remains as a way to reconstruct water availability: preliminary results

“…Interestingly, the relationship between D 13 C and irrigation regime for wheat from the same experiment, described by Stokes et al (2011), similarly shows only a moderate general relationship but strong site-specific relationships. For wheat, the differences between the sites are even more pronounced (Stokes et al 2011).…”

“…For every plot, three samples of ten grains each were analysed for their stable carbon isotope composition. Samples of 10 grains each were analysed, as it had been previously established that at least 7 grains are needed to average out any intra-plant and intra-plot variation (Stokes 2008), as also confirmed by another study, which cites using six measurements of the same species within one sample (Riehl et al 2008a). For every barley and every sorghum plot, three samples were analysed, for which grains spread over the plots were used.…”

“…The research presented here is part of an ongoing project specifically designed to address these problems in the environmental context of the Southern Levant, mainly through analyses of modern cereals specifically grown for the purpose of testing methodological approaches to the reconstruction of water management in archaeology Jenkins et al 2011). As the results of a pilot study involving the experimentally grown wheat have been published already by Stokes et al (2011), this paper will discuss preliminary results of barley and sorghum samples from these experiments.…”

“…Deir 'Alla is located in the Jordan Valley, at around 200 m below sea level, whereas Ramtha and Khirbet as-Samra are situated on the Jordan Plateau at ca. 510 and 560 m above sea level, respectively (Carr 2009;Stokes 2008). Ramtha usually receives most rainfall and Khirbet as-Samra the least, although in two of the years in which the experiments took place (2005-2006 and 2006-2007 growing seasons), rainfall at Deir 'Alla was highest.…”

Stable isotope and multi-analytical investigation of Monte da Cegonha: A Late Antiquity population in southern Portugal

“…However, there is no archaeobotanical data confirming the cultivation of millet at Monte da Cegonha. Moreover, the slightly enriched δ 13 C co values for ovicaprines could also arise from the consumption of different C 3 plants; or plant tissue with enriched δ 13 C co values (Dungait et al, 2011); or plants growing in fields subjected to different irrigation practices (Stokes et al, 2011).…”