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

2001 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 371-393 ◽  
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.

Immigration, Assimilation, and Status in the Ancient City of Teotihuacan: Stable Isotopic Evidence from Tlajinga 33

2004 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine D. White ◽  
Rebecca Storey ◽  
Fred J. Longstaffe ◽  
Michael W. Spence
Keyword(s):  
Tooth Development ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotope ◽  
Geographic Location ◽  
Isotope Ratios ◽  
Bone Collagen ◽  
Considerable Proportion ◽  
Economic Productivity ◽  
Oxygen Isotope Ratios ◽  
Immigration Assimilation

AbstractStable carbon isotope ratios in bone collagen and oxygen isotope ratios in bone and enamel phosphate from 25 individuals from the residential compound of Tlajinga 33 were used to examine the possibility that the inhabitants, who were craft producers, may have accepted immigrants to maintain either their ability to reproduce themselves as a social group or their level of economic productivity. Bone δ18O and δ13C values provide a long-term picture of geographic identity and diet, and enamel δ18O values provide a snapshot of geographic location during particular tooth development. A considerable proportion (29 percent) of the Tlajinga 33 inhabitants grew up elsewhere, but the majority of these immigrants had dwelt in Teotihuacan for many years before their death. Neither geographical relocation nor dietary differences are significantly associated with gender. The social position of foreigners appears to have been generally high. For example, the occupants of Tomb 50 appear to have come from elsewhere, possibly West Mexico, but foreigners were also found in lower status contexts such as middens. The stable isotope ratios reflecting long-term dwelling at Teotihuacan suggest that social status was achieved, which supports current archaeological evidence. Furthermore, the lack of dietary differences between immigrants and native Teotihuacanos may also imply political and/or ethnic assimilation.

How ‘Best’ to Determine Trophic Levels in Archaeological Agricultural Communities

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Reynard
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Trophic Level ◽  
Nitrogen Isotope ◽  
Isotope Ratios ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Bone Collagen ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen ◽  
Agricultural Communities ◽  
Plant Remains ◽  
Isotope System

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.

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

1985 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 102-116 ◽  
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.

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

1995 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 351-368 ◽  
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.

Reconstruction of African human diet using bone collagen carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios

Nature ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 319 (6051) ◽  
pp. 321-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanley H. Ambrose ◽  
Michael J. DeNiro
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Isotope ◽  
Isotope Ratios ◽  
Bone Collagen ◽  
Human Diet ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen
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