1. Mediterranean precipitation isoscape preserved in bone collagen δ 2 H.
- Author
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Reynard LM, Ryan SE, Guirguis M, Contreras-Martínez M, Pompianu E, Ramis D, van Dommelen P, and Tuross N
- Subjects
- Animals, Cattle, Humans, Mediterranean Region, Preservation, Biological, Bone and Bones metabolism, Collagen analysis, Hydrogen analysis, Oxygen Isotopes analysis
- Abstract
The prehistory of the Mediterranean region has long been a subject of considerable interest, particularly the links between human groups and regions of origin. We utilize the spatial variation in the δ
2 H and δ18 O values of precipitation (isoscapes) to develop proxies for geographic locations of fauna and humans. Bone collagen hydrogen isotope ratios (δ2 H) in cattle (and to a lesser extent, ovicaprids) across the Mediterranean reflect the isotopic differences observed in rainfall (but δ18 O values do not). We conclude that δ2 H in herbivore bone collagen can be used as a geolocation tracer and for palaeoenvironmental studies such as tracing past isotopic variations in the global hydrological cycle. In contrast, human bone δ2 H values are relatively tightly grouped and highly distinct from precipitation δ2 H values, likely due to human-specific food practices and environmental modifications. Given the inter-species variability in δ2 H, care should be taken in the species selected for study.- Published
- 2020
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