Applications of Stable Isotope Analysis in Zooarchaeology: An Introduction

Zangrando, Atilio Francisco Javier; Tessone, Augusto; Ugan, Andrew; Gutiérrez, Marisa

doi:10.1002/oa.2378

Cited by 12 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 56 publications

(66 reference statements)

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“…Stable isotope analysis has become a staple of zooarchaeological research, providing insight into past animal diet, mobility, and management [ 51 , 52 ]. As a method for investigating human-animal interactions, the combination of osteological analysis with stable isotope analysis is particularly valuable because both provide detailed information on the life history of an individual animal and its relationship to humans [ 53 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hunting before herding: A zooarchaeological and stable isotopic study of suids (Sus sp.) at Hardinxveld-Giessendam, the Netherlands (5450–4250 cal BC)

et al. 2022

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Suids (Sus sp.) played a crucial role in the transition to farming in northern Europe and, like in many regions, in the Netherlands pig husbandry became an important subsistence activity at Neolithic sites. Yet little is known about wild boar palaeoecology and hunting in the Late Mesolithic Netherlands with which to contextualize this transition. This paper presents the first multi-proxy analysis of archaeological suid remains in the Netherlands. It explores human-suid interactions at the Swifterbant culture sites of Hardinxveld-Giessendam Polderweg and De Bruin (5450–4250 BC) through biometric analysis, estimation of age-at-death, and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis. The results reveal targeted hunting of adult wild boar in the Late Mesolithic (5450–4850 BC), with a possible shift over time towards more juveniles. The wild boar in this period are demonstrated to be of comparably large size to contemporary northern European populations and exhibiting a wide range of dietary regimes. In the final occupational period (4450–4250 BC), small suids are present, possibly domestic pigs, but there is no evidence of pig management. This study demonstrates that the nature of human-suid interactions varied over time, which may have been connected to changing environmental conditions, human mobility, and wild boar behaviour. This study also contributes the first biometric and dietary baseline for mid-Holocene wild boar in the Netherlands.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hunting before herding: A zooarchaeological and stable isotopic study of suids (Sus sp.) at Hardinxveld-Giessendam, the Netherlands (5450–4250 cal BC)

et al. 2022

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“…Esta información provee el marco de referencia a partir del cual se pueden realizar las inferencias paleodietarias (Méndez et al 2014;Zangrando et al 2014). Para obtener un cuadro más completo y debido a la falta de datos propios de δ 15 N para los restos faunísticos esta información es complementada con la publicada para la pampa bonaerense por otros investigadores (Tabla 3).…”

Section: Resultados Ecología Isotópica Del Sector De Estudiounclassified

“…que indican dietas mixtas y con los valores de δ 15 N. Sin embargo hay que considerar también que otros factores pudieron influir en el aumento del δ 15 N, como el estrés hídrico o el consumo de algún otro recurso terrestre enriquecido en 15 N, no detectado hasta ahora. Para evaluar estas alternativas resulta necesario realizar análisis de δ 15 N sobre los distintos recursos consumidos en el sector de estudio (Zangrando et al 2014). …”

Section: Discussionunclassified

Isótopos Estables Y Dieta De Los Cazadores Recolectores Del Sudoeste Bonaerense (Argentina)

et al. 2016

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Se presentan los primeros resultados del análisis de isótopos estables (δ 13 C y δ 15 N) obtenidos sobre restos humanos provenientes de sitios arqueológicos del sudoeste de la provincia de Buenos Aires (Argentina), datados en el Holoceno Tardío. Conjuntamente se informan los primeros datos de δ 13 Ccol. sobre los distintos recursos faunísticos del sector. El área de estudio se compone de diversos ambientes, destacándose los entornos acuáticos como la costa marina, los valles fluviales, las lagunas y el humedal. Los valores isotópicos de los recursos del sector indican que los animales marinos presentan los valores más enriquecidos en δ 13 C; mientras que aquellas especies terrestres (coipo, ñandú y herbívoros grandes) presentan los valores más empobrecidos, que son indistinguibles entre ellos. Por su parte, las aves acuáticas y el peludo tienen valores intermedios. El estudio isotópico sobre restos humanos reflejó que la dieta de los individuos fue cárnica, que las proteínas de animales terrestres fueron predominantes y que en menor proporción se usaron recursos marinos. El registro arqueofaunístico del área resulta concordante con esta información. Finalmente, estos son los primeros resultados isotópicos para el sector, por lo que constituye un aporte preliminar que deberá continuar con la realización de nuevos estudios.Palabras claves: cazadores-recolectores, isótopos estables, registro bioarqueológico y arqueofaunístico, región pampeana, Holoceno Tardío. Results of the first stable isotopes analysis (δ 13 C and δ 15 N) of archaeological sites located in the southwest of the province of Buenos Aires (Argentina) are presented. Both the construction of an isotopic ecology and prehistoric human diets of the sector are explored. The isotopic ecology indicates diverse environments in which marine

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“…Detailed theoretical backgrounds are available in reviews such as Lee-Thorp (2008) and Katzenberg (2008). Introductory works contributed by Birch (2013) and Zangrando, Tessone, Ugan, and Gutiérrez (2014) can be referred to for further details on applying SIA in zooarchaeology.…”

Section: Methodological Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Animal husbandry strategies in Eastern Zhou China: An isotopic study on faunal remains from the Central Plains

Zhou

Hou

Wang

et al. 2018

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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Textual records and archaeological evidence reflect prosperous animal farming in the Eastern Zhou of ancient China (770–220 BC), but knowledge of how these animals were fed is limited. Here, we present the first stable isotopic study investigating animal husbandry strategies of this period. Isotopic features of faunal remains of 5 species discovered in Songzhuang cemetery suggest that pigs and dogs were fed on mixed diets with substantial internal variation, and cattle were fed mainly on a C4‐based diet. This is similar to the situation found in another Eastern Zhou cemetery, Tianli. Evidence from the 2 sites demonstrates that domesticated omnivores were raised in quite flexible ways, but cattle raising practices show consistency in different areas of China's Central Plains. Inter‐burial analysis of isotopic data suggests a very small scale of cattle farming during this period. Temporal comparison reveals that early Bronze Age people on the Plains had already established practices of provisioning cattle with C4 plants, and that these practices were inherited by Eastern Zhou people without significant change. However, manuring practices of the historical period likely elevated stable nitrogen isotope values of cattle slightly relative to Bronze Age values. This study sheds light on animal management practices on the plains during early historical times, and also provides faunal isotopic values for reference in studies of contemporary human diets.

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Applications of Stable Isotope Analysis in Zooarchaeology: An Introduction

Cited by 12 publications

References 56 publications

Hunting before herding: A zooarchaeological and stable isotopic study of suids (Sus sp.) at Hardinxveld-Giessendam, the Netherlands (5450–4250 cal BC)

Hunting before herding: A zooarchaeological and stable isotopic study of suids (Sus sp.) at Hardinxveld-Giessendam, the Netherlands (5450–4250 cal BC)

Isótopos Estables Y Dieta De Los Cazadores Recolectores Del Sudoeste Bonaerense (Argentina)

Animal husbandry strategies in Eastern Zhou China: An isotopic study on faunal remains from the Central Plains

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