The Concept of Isotopic Landscapes: Modern Ecogeochemistry versus Bioarchaeology

The term “isotopic landscape” or “isoscape” is used to indicate a map depicting isotopic variation in the environment. The spatial distribution of isotopic ratios in environmental samples is an indispensable prerequisite for generating an isotopic landscape yet represents more than simply an assessment of this distribution. An isotopic landscape also includes the fundamental parameters of prediction and modelling, thus providing estimated isotopic signatures at sites for which no values are known. When calibrated, such models are very helpful in assessing the origin of geological and biological materials. Reconstructing the place of origin of primarily non-local archaeological finds is a major topic in bioarchaeology because it gives clues to major driving forces for population development through time such as mobility, migration, and trade. These are fundamental aspects of the past human behaviour. For decades, stable isotope analysis has been the method of choice, but still has its limitations. Bioarchaeological sciences have adopted “isoscapes” mainly as a term, but not as a contextual concept.