Fish bone diagenesis in southeastern Brazilian shell mounds and its importance for paleoenvironmental studies

Aguilera, Orangel A.; Belem, André L.; Angélica, Rômulo Simões; Macario, Kita C. D.; Crapez, Mírian Araújo Carlos; Nepomuceno, Aguinaldo; Páes, Eduardo Tavares; Tenório, Maria Cristina; Dias, Fábio Ferreira; Souza, Rosa Cristina Corrêa Luz de; Rapagnã, Luciano; Carvalho, C. A. A. de; Silva, Edson

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2015.07.012

Cited by 20 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…The groundfish catches were the result of multi-gear strategies in seasonal fisheries. Radiometric age, geochemical analyses and climate reconstruction of these ichthyoarchaeological remains [ 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 ] were used to supporting our findings.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 67%

The Path towards Endangered Species: Prehistoric Fisheries in Southeastern Brazil

et al. 2016

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Brazilian shellmounds are archaeological sites with a high concentration of marine faunal remains. There are more than 2000 sites along the coast of Brazil that range in age from 8,720 to 985 cal BP. Here, we studied the ichthyoarchaeological remains (i.e., cranial/postcranial bones, otoliths, and teeth, among others) at 13 shellmounds on the southern coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro, which are located in coastal landscapes, including a sandy plain with coastal lagoons, rocky islands, islets and rocky bays. We identified patterns of similarity between shellmounds based on fish diversity, the ages of the assemblages, littoral geomorphology and prehistoric fisheries. Our new radiocarbon dating, based on otolith samples, was used for fishery characterization over time. A taxonomical study of the ichthyoarchaeological remains includes a diversity of 97 marine species, representing 37% of all modern species (i.e., 265 spp.) that have been documented along the coast of Rio de Janeiro state. This high fish diversity recovered from the shellmounds is clear evidence of well-developed prehistoric fishery activity that targeted sharks, rays and finfishes in a productive area influenced by coastal marine upwelling. The presence of adult and neonate shark, especially oceanic species, is here interpreted as evidence of prehistoric fisheries capacity for exploitation and possibly overexploitation in nursery areas. Various tools and strategies were used to capture finfish in seasonal fisheries, over rocky reef bottoms and in sandy littoral environments. Massive catches of whitemouth croaker, main target dermersal species of South Atlantic coast, show evidence of a reduction in body size of approximately 28% compared with modern fisheries. Fishery activity involving vulnerable species, especially in nursery areas, could mark the beginning of fish depletion along the southeastern Brazilian coast and the collapse of natural fish populations.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 67%

The Path towards Endangered Species: Prehistoric Fisheries in Southeastern Brazil

et al. 2016

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“…Arid conditions in the Late Holocene were also described for fish bones found in archaeological shellmounds (calibrated 14 C ages ranging between 4632 and 3211 cal BP) in Rio das Ostras (RJ) (22°31′40″S, 41°56′22″W) and Saquarema (RJ) (22°55′66″S, 42°29′00″W) (Aguilera et al 2015). Diagenesis, which depends primarily on climate conditions (Marean 1991), can be recognized from several geochemical alterations that occur at different stages after the burial.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Stromatolite Growth in Lagoa Vermelha, Southeastern Coast of Brazil: Evidence of Environmental Changes

et al. 2017

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Among the oldest remains of living beings to have inhabited the Earth’s surface, there are the stromatolites—laminated sedimentary rocks associated with lithified mats of layered phototrophic microbial communities—which grow in specific environmental conditions. In the present work, we study a recent carbonatic stromatolite from Lagoa Vermelha (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), a shallow coastal hypersaline lagoon. X-ray diffraction was associated to a depth chronological model defining three different sections based on changes in mineral composition of the stromatolite with increased dolomite content. Although a mean growth rate of 0.19±0.03 mm/yr is observed, the model discloses decreasing growth rates among the sections. Since dolomite formation can be related to high availability of Mg+2, confirmed by an expressive presence of (Ca, Mg)CO3, the lower growth rates were associated to a more arid environment, until approximately 1440 cal AD, with higher temperatures and consequently promoting water evaporation and salinity enhancement.

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“…Moreover, the direct morphological evaluations show hyperostotic structures known as “swollen bone.” The high bone density shown by radiography and microCT reveals a partial loss of hydroxyapatite and calcite neocrystallization and is in agreement with the X‐ray diffraction results (Table , Figures ). Zooarchaeological fish bones from the shell mounds show evidence of hyperostosis and the diagenesis process (Aguilera et al., ), which is induced by bacterial activity, low pH, leaching and carbonate neocrystallization. Diagenesis, which depends primarily on climate conditions (Marean, ), can be recognized by geochemical alterations that occur at different stages after burial (Aguilera et al., ; Quattropani, Charlet, De Lumley, & Menu, ; Tuross, Behrensmeyer, Eanes, Fisher, & Hare, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Taxonomical analysis requires the accurate identification of certain bones such as the skull, jaw, pharyngeal tooth, pectoral girdle and vertebrae. Fish bones and otoliths are used as a substrate for radiocarbon dating and isotope analyses for δ 18 O‐derived temperatures (Aguilera et al., ; Alves et al., ; Andrews, Kalish, Newman, & Johnston, ; Ghosh, Eiler, Campana, & Feeney, ; Petchey & Higham, ; Piner & Wischniowski, ; Szpak, ; West, Wischniowski, & Johnston, ). Therefore, mineralogical integrity precludes the selection of samples for complex and expensive geochemical analysis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The bone degenerative processes in senile fishes from Holocene Brazilian shell mounds

Aguilera

Rocha

Lopes

et al. 2017

Journal of Fish Diseases

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Zooarchaeological collections from shell mounds in Rio de Janeiro (2,470-4,632 cal BP) contain a high prevalence of swollen fish bones belonging to the Atlantic spadefish (Chaetodipterus faber), crevalle jack (Caranx hippos) and fat snook (Centropomus parallelus). Given the lack of knowledge of the bone degenerative process in senile fishes, this study analysed hyperostotic bone in zooarchaeological and modern specimens to obtain high-resolution morphology and microstructure reconstruction. We used microCT as well as X-ray diffraction to characterize the crystallographic changes associated with fish senility. Our results showed that trabecular microstructures in hyperostotic bones were consistent with estimated values of the per cent bone volume-to-total volume ratio (BV/TV) and were greater than 60% in cortical bone. Hyperostotic bones indicated a high radiograph density, and X-ray diffractograms showed a decrease in hydroxyapatite [Ca (PO ) (OH) ] and calcite (CaCO ) neocrystallization. These crystalline and density changes revealed an advanced stage of fish senile and indicate the vulnerability of ageing fish populations.

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Fish bone diagenesis in southeastern Brazilian shell mounds and its importance for paleoenvironmental studies

Cited by 20 publications

References 38 publications

The Path towards Endangered Species: Prehistoric Fisheries in Southeastern Brazil

The Path towards Endangered Species: Prehistoric Fisheries in Southeastern Brazil

Stromatolite Growth in Lagoa Vermelha, Southeastern Coast of Brazil: Evidence of Environmental Changes

The bone degenerative processes in senile fishes from Holocene Brazilian shell mounds

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