Quantitative evaluation of marine protein contribution in ancient diets based on nitrogen isotope ratios of individual amino acids in bone collagen: An investigation at the Kitakogane Jomon site

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.

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Quantitative Reconstruction of Weaning Ages in Archaeological Human Populations Using Bone Collagen Nitrogen Isotope Ratios and Approximate Bayesian Computation

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0072327 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 8 (8) ◽

pp. e72327 ◽

Cited By ~ 66

Author(s):

Takumi Tsutaya ◽

Minoru Yoneda

Keyword(s):

Approximate Bayesian Computation ◽

Nitrogen Isotope ◽

Isotope Ratios ◽

Bone Collagen ◽

Human Populations ◽

Bayesian Computation ◽

Quantitative Reconstruction ◽

Approximate Bayesian

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A Re-Evaluation of the Isotopic and Archaeological Reconstructions of Diet in the Tehuacan Valley

American Antiquity ◽

10.2307/280636 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 50 (1) ◽

pp. 102-116 ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

Paul Farnsworth ◽

James E. Brady ◽

Michael J. DeNiro ◽

Richard S. MacNeish

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Isotope ◽

Isotopic Analysis ◽

Isotope Ratios ◽

Bone Collagen ◽

Food Sources ◽

Tehuacán Valley ◽

Archaeological Data ◽

Tehuacan Valley ◽

Extensive Program ◽

Archaeological Reconstruction

Carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios in collagen from bones of individuals who lived in the Tehuacan Valley during the period 8000–1000 years B.P. have been interpreted as indicating earlier use of maize and more utilization of legumes as food sources than is suggested by the occurrence of the remains of these plants in the coprolites and debris excavated along with the bones. Reassessment of the assumptions made in interpreting the bone collagen isotope ratios reduces some but not all of the discrepancy between the isotopic and archaeological reconstructions of diet. The original archaeological reconstruction relied entirely on remains from cave sites, thus introducing seasonal and locational biases into the dietary reconstruction. Using the bone collagen isotope ratios as a guide, we re-interpreted the archaeological data to produce a more complete picture of temporal changes in the overall diet. We suggest that heavy dependence on grains began in the Coxcatlan phase and then may have remained unchanged for the next 5,500–6,500 years. These conclusions, which are based on a relatively small isotopic data base, need to be verified by an extensive program of isotopic analysis of the floral, faunal, and human remains from Tehuacan.

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Social Complexity and Food Systems at Altun Ha, Belize: The Isotopic Evidence

Latin American Antiquity ◽

10.2307/972085 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 371-393 ◽

Cited By ~ 50

Author(s):

Christine D. White ◽

David M. Pendergast ◽

Fred J. Longstaffe ◽

Kimberley R. Law

Keyword(s):

Food Systems ◽

Temporal Trends ◽

Stable Carbon Isotope ◽

Nitrogen Isotope ◽

Isotope Ratios ◽

Bone Collagen ◽

High Status ◽

Terminal Classic ◽

Maya Site ◽

Early Classic Period

This study reports stable carbon-isotope ratios for both bone collagen and apatite, and nitrogen-isotope ratios for bone collagen for 72 Maya skeletons from 9 zones representing contrasting status groups at Altun Ha, Belize. The sample spans the Preclassic to Postclassic periods, approximately 800 B. C. to after A. D. 950. Although Altun Ha has a maize-based (C-4) diet, it has a much stronger marine/reef component than any other Maya site studied so far. Two possible dedicatory burial groups are dietarily distinct. The source of protein appears to have been fairly stable throughout the site sequence, but a marked shift to reduced consumption of C4 foods seems to have occurred after the Early Classic period. A second similar decline probably occurred between the Late/Terminal Classic and the Postclassic periods. These apparent temporal trends may, however, be confounded by differences between zones. High status is marked by consumption of large quantities of C4 foods, possibly including C4-fed terrestrial animals. Males consumed more meat and C4 foods than did females. All δ-values and collagen-apatite spacings indicate that children were breastfed until at least the age of three or four.

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Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios of bone collagen: Variations within individuals, between sexes, and within populations raised on monotonous diets

Journal of Archaeological Science ◽

10.1016/0305-4403(83)90002-x ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 199-203 ◽

Cited By ~ 121

Author(s):

Michael J. Deniro ◽

Margaret J. Schoeniger

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Isotope ◽

Isotope Ratios ◽

Bone Collagen ◽

Stable Carbon ◽

Carbon And Nitrogen

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Exceptionally high δ15N values in collagen single amino acids confirm Neandertals as high-trophic level carnivores

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.1814087116 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 116 (11) ◽

pp. 4928-4933 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Klervia Jaouen ◽

Michael P. Richards ◽

Adeline Le Cabec ◽

Frido Welker ◽

William Rendu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Amino Acids ◽

Freshwater Fish ◽

Transition Period ◽

Isotope Ratios ◽

Trophic Levels ◽

Upper Paleolithic ◽

Bone Collagen ◽

Single Amino Acid ◽

Large Herbivores ◽

C And N

Isotope and archeological analyses of Paleolithic food webs have suggested that Neandertal subsistence relied mainly on the consumption of large herbivores. This conclusion was primarily based on elevated nitrogen isotope ratios in Neandertal bone collagen and has been significantly debated. This discussion relies on the observation that similar high nitrogen isotopes values could also be the result of the consumption of mammoths, young animals, putrid meat, cooked food, freshwater fish, carnivores, or mushrooms. Recently, compound-specific C and N isotope analyses of bone collagen amino acids have been demonstrated to add significantly more information about trophic levels and aquatic food consumption. We undertook single amino acid C and N isotope analysis on two Neandertals, which were characterized by exceptionally high N isotope ratios in their bulk bone or tooth collagen. We report here both C and N isotope ratios on single amino acids of collagen samples for these two Neandertals and associated fauna. The samples come from two sites dating to the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition period (Les Cottés and Grotte du Renne, France). Our results reinforce the interpretation of Neandertal dietary adaptations as successful top-level carnivores, even after the arrival of modern humans in Europe. They also demonstrate that high δ15N values of bone collagen can solely be explained by mammal meat consumption, as supported by archeological and zooarcheological evidence, without necessarily invoking explanations including the processing of food (cooking, fermenting), the consumption of mammoths or young mammals, or additional (freshwater fish, mushrooms) dietary protein sources.

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The Late Woodland Diet on Nantucket Island and the Problem of Maize in Coastal New England

American Antiquity ◽

10.2307/282145 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 60 (2) ◽

pp. 351-368 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Elizabeth A. Little ◽

Margaret J. Schoeninger

Keyword(s):

New England ◽

Nitrogen Isotope ◽

Isotope Ratios ◽

Late Woodland ◽

Trophic Levels ◽

Bone Collagen ◽

C3 Plants ◽

Food Groups ◽

Late Woodland Period ◽

Wide Range

Carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios of (1) bone collagen from six burials of the Late Woodland Period at Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, and (2) a wide range of potential dietary materials provide data for evaluating coastal diets. Archaeological and historical data give evidence for the availability and use of dietary items. The bases of the food chains and trophic levels define the possible food groups: terrestrial C3 and C4 plants and their consumers, marine C3 and C4-like plants and their consumers, and marine carnivores. From these data, computer analysis of multiple linear mixing equations relating isotope ratios of human bone collagen to those of dietary food groups shows allowable ranges of these food groups in the diet. The results argue for a diet of 40–65 percent oceanic animals, with the rest consisting of substantial amounts of animals from salt marsh and eelgrass meadows or of maize, and minor amounts of C3 plants and their consumers.

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