Chronology of middle Holocene hunter–gatherers in the Cis-Baikal region of Siberia: Corrections based on examination of the freshwater reservoir effect

Abstract

A dataset of 256 AMS radiocarbon dates on human skeletal remains from middle Holocene cemeteries in the Cis-Baikal region, Siberia, and associated carbon and nitrogen stable isotope values are analyzed for new insights about culture history and processes of culture change. First, based on the typological criteria all dated human burials are assigned to mortuary traditions and typochronological units-Late Mesolithic, Early Neolithic, Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age. Next, all dates are corrected for the Freshwater Reservoir Effect (FRE) according to the regression equations developed using paired radiocarbon dates on human and terrestrial faunal remains from the same graves (Bronk Ramsey et al., 2014; Schulting et al., 2014; 2015) and examined for chronological trends using a Bayesian approach. While the entire corrected culture historical sequence is younger by roughly 200-400 years relative to the previous model (Weber et al., 2010) the shift of the specific period boundaries is not systematic due to the varying proportion of aquatic food in the diets of the relevant groups. Examination of the dataset subdivided into smaller spatio-temporal units provides additional insights. During the Early Neolithic, in the Angara and Southwest Baikal micro-regions there is a chronological trend toward increased reliance on aquatic food. During the Early Bronze Age in the Little Sea micro-*Manuscript Click here to view linked References 2 region, there appears to be a trend toward increased reliance on the Baikal seal. This shift, however, can also be interpreted as increasing migration over time of new groups from the Upper Lena. The sample from the Early Neolithic Shamanka II cemetery in Southwest Baikal shows two non-abutting phases of use each displaying a trend toward greater consumption of aquatic foods. These findings provide new chronological framework for the study of other cultural changes affecting middle Holocene hunter-gatherers in the region. The results may also allow better correlation with other sequences, cultural and environmental, that are not affected by the FRE.

Shifting weaning practices in Early Neolithic Cis‐Baikal, Siberia: New insights from stable isotope analysis of molar micro‐samples

“…A substantial freshwater reservoir offset in radiocarbon age between terrestrial herbivores and aquatic fauna of Lake Baikal from the same stratigraphic levels has been corrected using a combination of methods (Schulting, Ramsey, Bazaliiskii, Goriunova, & Weber, ; Weber et al, ). The results of corrections modelled with OxCal 4.2 indicate that there are two separate phases of cemetery use during the EN at Shamanka II: Phase 1 ( n = 94) from approximately 7,532 to 7,461 corrected years BP (mean highest posterior distribution interval, 95.4% confidence level), and Phase 2 ( n = 16) from 6,916 to 6,746 corrected years BP (mean highest posterior distribution interval, 95.4% confidence level).…”

“…First molars (M1) were sampled from 28 individuals at Shamanka II representing females ( n = 12), males ( n = 16), and include both Phases (Phase 1 [ n = 20] and Phase 2 [ n = 8]). These individuals were previously analysed for bone collagen carbon and nitrogen isotopes (Weber et al, ; Weber, Schulting, Bronk Ramsey, & Bazaliiskii, ) as well as radiocarbon dates (Weber, Schulting, Bronk Ramsey, Bazaliiskii, Goriunova, & Berdnikova, ) calibrated for a regional reservoir correction (Table ; Data S2).…”

“…Bone values from Weber et?al., , Weber, Schulting, Bronk Ramsey, & Bazaliiskii, . Dates presented as calibrated 14 C years BP, following Weber, Schulting, Bronk Ramsey, Bazaliiskii, Goriunova, & Berdnikova, . Trophic‐enrichment values of 0.2‰ δ 13 C and 2‰ δ 15 N were used to estimate Mother's Diet.…”

“…Bone values for 14 C, δ 13 C, and δ 15 N have been previously published (Weber et al, ; Weber, Schulting, Bronk Ramsey, & Bazaliiskii, ; Weber, Schulting, Bronk Ramsey, Bazaliiskii, Goriunova, & Berdnikova, ) and were conducted at the Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit.…”

The Angara Rock Art Style and the Emergence of Ethno‐Cultural Identity

“…In terms of the cultural attributions of the bone artefacts with elk depictions, as determined by researchers in the Cis‐Baikal region (Table ), there are 26 items belonging to the Early Neolithic Kitoi Culture, dated to 7500–7000 cal BP (the dates of the Cis‐Baikal cultures follow A. Weber et al . ); only one item was recovered from a site identified with the Late Neolithic Serovo Culture (5570–4600 cal BP); and six items originated from contexts within the Early Bronze Age Glazkovo Culture (4600–3725 cal BP). If we consider only those items from a radiocarbon‐dated context (Table ; Fig.…”