scholarly journals Reservoir Effect of Archaeological Samples from Steppe Bronze Age Cultures in Southern Russia

Radiocarbon ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 56 (02) ◽  
pp. 767-778 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Shishlina ◽  
V Sevastyanov ◽  
E Zazovskaya ◽  
J van der Plicht
Keyword(s):  
Bronze Age ◽  
Human Bone ◽  
Bone Collagen ◽  
Arid Climate ◽  
Reservoir Effect ◽  
Human Bones ◽  
Animal Bone ◽  
Southern Russia

Human and animal bone collagen from different Steppe Bronze Age cultures, including the Yamnaya, East Manych Catacomb, and Lola cultures, show large variations in δ13C and δ15N values. More positive values of δ13C and δ15N are caused by change in diet and/or a more arid climate. Human bones show reservoir effects caused by aquatic diet components. These effects can be quantified by paired dating of human bone and associated terrestrial samples. Previous research showed reservoir corrections for several cultures of the Eurasian steppes Bronze Age, leading to a revision of the local chronologies. Additional investigations showed that some paired dates do not reveal reservoir effects. Recently, our database was extended significantly with new13C,l5N, and14C analyses of the Lola, Krivaya, and Babino cultures. The size of the reservoir offset for the studied cultures is discussed.

scholarly journals Reservoir Effect of Archaeological Samples from Steppe Bronze Age Cultures in Southern Russia

Radiocarbon ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 767-778 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Shishlina ◽  
V Sevastyanov ◽  
E Zazovskaya ◽  
J van der Plicht
Keyword(s):  
Bronze Age ◽  
Human Bone ◽  
Bone Collagen ◽  
Arid Climate ◽  
Reservoir Effect ◽  
Human Bones ◽  
Animal Bone ◽  
Southern Russia

Human and animal bone collagen from different Steppe Bronze Age cultures, including the Yamnaya, East Manych Catacomb, and Lola cultures, show large variations in δ13C and δ15N values. More positive values of δ13C and δ15N are caused by change in diet and/or a more arid climate. Human bones show reservoir effects caused by aquatic diet components. These effects can be quantified by paired dating of human bone and associated terrestrial samples. Previous research showed reservoir corrections for several cultures of the Eurasian steppes Bronze Age, leading to a revision of the local chronologies. Additional investigations showed that some paired dates do not reveal reservoir effects. Recently, our database was extended significantly with new 13C, l5N, and 14C analyses of the Lola, Krivaya, and Babino cultures. The size of the reservoir offset for the studied cultures is discussed.

scholarly journals Isotopes, Plants, and Reservoir Effects: Case Study from the Caspian Steppe Bronze Age

Radiocarbon ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 54 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 749-760 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Shishlina ◽  
E Zazovskaya ◽  
J van der Plicht ◽  
V Sevastyanov
Keyword(s):  
Bronze Age ◽  
Alternative Explanation ◽  
Bone Collagen ◽  
Human Diet ◽  
Human Bones ◽  
Animal Bone ◽  
Different Types ◽  
C And N ◽  
East And West

Bronze Age human and animal bone collagen from several steppe Bronze Age cultures (i.e. Early Catacomb, East and West Manych Catacomb, and Lola cultures) shows large variations in δ13C and δ15N values. In general, we observed that the older the sample, the lower the δ13C and δ15N values. We hypothesize that more positive values of δ13C and δ15N are caused by change in diet and a more arid climate. For ancient sheep during drier periods of the Early Catacomb, East and West Manych Catacomb, and Lola cultures, we observed 2 groups with different C and N isotopic compositions, reflecting consumption of different types of fodder. During periods of aridization, C4 and C3 plants with high δ15N values appeared in the vegetation, also influencing bone collagen values. Human bones show reservoir effects, caused by aquatic diet components. These effects can be quantified by paired dating of human bone and associated terrestrial samples. Reservoir corrections have revised chronologies for the region. Some paired dates do not reveal reservoir effects. This can be explained in 2 alternative ways. One is that the human diet did not include aquatic components; rather, the diet was based on C3 vegetation with high δ15N values (13–15‰), and flesh/milk of domesticated animals. An alternative explanation is that humans consumed food from freshwater resources without reservoir effects.

scholarly journals A Freshwater Diet-Derived 14C Reservoir Effect at the Stone Age Sites in the Iron Gates Gorge

Radiocarbon ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (2A) ◽  
pp. 453-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
G T Cook ◽  
C Bonsall ◽  
R E M Hedges ◽  
K McSweeney ◽  
V Boronean ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Protein ◽  
Human Bone ◽  
Bone Collagen ◽  
Stone Age ◽  
Human Diet ◽  
Reservoir Effect ◽  
Human Bones ◽  
Direct Association ◽  
Freshwater Reservoir ◽  
Isotope Analyses

Human bones from single inhumation burials and artifacts made from terrestrial mammal (ungulate) bone found in direct association with the skeletons were obtained from the Stone Age site of Schela Cladovei situated just below the Iron Gates Gorge of the River Danube. The results of stable isotope analyses of the human bone collagen are consistent with a heavy dependence on aquatic protein while radiocarbon dating of the samples reveals an offset of 300–500 years between the two sample types, indicating a freshwater reservoir effect in the human bone samples. Since protein consumption is by far the major source of nitrogen in the human diet we have assumed a linear relationship between δ15N and the level of aquatic protein in each individual's diet and derived a calibration for 14C age offset versus δ15N which has been applied to a series of results from the site at Lepenski Vir within the gorge. The corrected 14C ages (7310-6720 BP) are now consistent with the previous 14C age measurements made on charcoal from related contexts (7360–6560 BP). In addition, the data indicate a change from a primarily aquatic to a mixed terrestrial/aquatic diet around 7100 BP and this may be argued as supporting a shift from Mesolithic to Neolithic. This study also has wider implications for the accurate dating of human bone samples when the possibility exists of an aquatic component in the dietary protein and strongly implies that δ15N analysis should be undertaken routinely when dating human bones.

Aquatic Radiocarbon Reservoir Offsets in the Southeastern Baltic

Radiocarbon ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 539-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gytis Piličiauskas ◽  
Carl Heron
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Bronze Age ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Bone Collagen ◽  
Curonian Lagoon ◽  
Human Bones ◽  
Ceramic Vessel ◽  
Pike Perch ◽  
Ceramic Vessels ◽  
Ams Dates

The aim of this article is to discuss radiocarbon dating offsets due to freshwater and marine reservoir effects (FRE and MRE, respectively) in the southeastern Baltic. Thirty-six 14C dates from Lithuanian coastal and inland Subneolithic, Neolithic, and Bronze Age sites as well as two Mesolithic-Neolithic cemeteries are presented here. Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) dates, sometimes paired or tripled, have been obtained on samples of various origin, foodcrusts, or visible charred deposits adhering to the surfaces of ceramic vessel walls were also dated and investigated for stable isotope signals. The results argue for a significant freshwater component in the food processed in ceramic vessels during the Subneolithic and Neolithic. Paired dating of ungulate and human bones at the Spiginas and Donkalnis cemeteries (6300–1900 cal BC) does not suggest an FRE, although stable isotope data on human bone collagen strongly suggest a large input of freshwater food in the diet. An FRE in the order of 320–510 yr was estimated for the Šventoji paleolagoon around 3000 cal BC. At the same time, the FRE of the Curonian Lagoon could be larger as implied by large apparent 14C ages of modern pike-perch (981 ± 30 BP) and bream (738 ± 30 BP) bones as well as “foodcrust” offsets (650–530 yr) at Nida (3500–2500 cal BC). An MRE of 190 ± 43 yr was estimated for the southeastern coast of the Littorina Sea according to offsets between dates of seal bones and terrestrial samples at Nida and Šventoji. Any FRE at Lake Kretuonas remains uncertain due to the limited work to date.

scholarly journals Stones, Bones, and Hillfort: Radiocarbon Dating of ķivutkalns Bronze-Working Center

Radiocarbon ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 1252-1264 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Oinonen ◽  
A Vasks ◽  
G Zarina ◽  
M Lavento
Keyword(s):  
Bronze Age ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Nuclear Family ◽  
Bone Collagen ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Bone Material ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen ◽  
Animal Bone ◽  
Archaeological Artifacts

The Bronze Age site of ķivutkalns with its massive amount of archaeological artifacts and human remains is considered the largest bronze-working center in Latvia. The site is a unique combination of cemetery and hillfort believed to be built on top of each other. This work presents new radiocarbon dates on human and animal bone collagen that somewhat challenge this interpretation. Based on analyses using a Bayesian modeling framework, the present data suggest overlapping calendar year distributions for the contexts within the 1st millennium BC. The carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratios indicate mainly terrestrial dietary habits of studied individuals and nuclear family remains buried in one of the graves. The older charcoal data may be subject to the old-wood effect and the results are partly limited by the limited amount of data and the 14C calibration curve plateau of the 1st millennium BC. Therefore, the ultimate conclusions on contemporaneity of the cemetery and hillfort need to wait for further analyses on the massive amounts of bone material.

scholarly journals The Excavation of the Sculptor's Cave, Covesea, Morayshire

1931 ◽  
Vol 65 ◽  
pp. 177-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvia Benton
Keyword(s):  
Bronze Age ◽  
Glass Beads ◽  
Human Bone ◽  
Animal Bone ◽  
Worked Bone

An account of excavation in the cave made famous by its Pictish carvings. The earliest Bronze Age phase of occupation is represented by a range of objects including gold and bronze rings, bracelets, worked bone objects including needles and pottery. Material from the Roman phase include bronze rings, bracelets, wire and glass beads, pins, toilet instruments, needles, samian and native pottery and coins. Disarticulated human bone comprised mainly children. Animal bone was also present throughout.

scholarly journals Problems of dating human bones from the Iron Gates

Antiquity ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 76 (291) ◽  
pp. 77-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.T. Cook ◽  
C. Bonsall ◽  
R.E.M. Hedges ◽  
K. McSweeney ◽  
V. Boroneant ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Human Remains ◽  
Human Bone ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Marine Resources ◽  
Human Diet ◽  
Reservoir Effect ◽  
Human Bones

It is widely recognized that when marine resources form a significant proportion of the human diet, this results in radiocarbon ages for human remains that are significantly older than the contemporary atmosphere. While there has been widespread assessment of marine14C reservoir ages, there has been little study of the freshwater equivalent. However, recent analyses of human bone from archaeological sites in the Danube Valley have confirmed the existence of a large freshwater14C reservoir effect.

scholarly journals The Catacomb Cultures of the North-West Caspian Steppe: 14C Chronology, Reservoir Effect, and Paleodiet

Radiocarbon ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 713-726 ◽  
Author(s):  
N I Shishlina ◽  
J van der Plicht ◽  
R E M Hedges ◽  
E P Zazovskaya ◽  
V S Sevastyanov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bronze Age ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Bone Collagen ◽  
Stable Isotope Ratios ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Bone Material ◽  
Reservoir Effect ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
The Bronze Age

For the Bronze Age Catacomb cultures of the North-West Caspian steppe area in Russia, there is a conflict between the traditional relative archaeological chronology and the chronology based on radiocarbon dates. We show that this conflict can be explained largely by the fact that most dates have been obtained on human bone material and are subject to 14C reservoir effects. This was demonstrated by comparing paired 14C dates derived from human and terrestrial herbivore bone collagen. In addition, values of stable isotope ratios (δ13C and δ15N) and analysis of food remains from vessels and the stomach contents of buried individuals indicate that a large part of the diet of these cultures consisted of fish and mollusks, and we conclude that this is the source of the reservoir effect.

scholarly journals Freshwater reservoir effect and the radiocarbon chronology of the cemetery in Ząbie, Poland

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Łukasz Pospieszny
Keyword(s):  
Bronze Age ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Large Lakes ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Reservoir Effect ◽  
Human Bones ◽  
Local Water ◽  
Freshwater Reservoir ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
Radiocarbon Chronology

In the 3rd millennium BC an island on the Łańskie Lake in north-eastern Poland was seasonally settled by a group of people practicing a syncretic burial ritual, exhibiting indigenous and foreign patterns. They left behind a small cemetery consisting of at least six graves. 14C dates made for samples of human bones until 2009 did not coincide with the expected age of the graves. Under a new pilot program in 2010–2013, a series of radiocarbon measurements was made for the human bones and an artefact of red deer antler, along with analyses of the stable isotopes ratios of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) in the collagen. The results indicate a significant proportion of freshwater food in the diet, which caused the radiocarbon dates to be too old due to the freshwater reservoir effect (FRE). Based on the dating of the antler, unaffected by FRE, and comparative analysis, the reservoir offset for one of the graves was estimated to 740 radiocarbon years. The results, although limited by a low number of investigated humans and animals, indicate indirectly a specialization in the exploitation of local water resources. Such an economic strategy seems to be characteristic for the societies inhabiting the coasts of the Baltic Sea and littoral zones of large lakes in the Final Neolithic and at the beginning of the Early Bronze Age.

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