Archeological contributions to the use of stable isotopes in paleoclimate studies
- Univ. of Waterloo, Ontario (Canada). Dept. of Earth Sciences
- McMaster Univ., Hamilton, Ontario (Canada). Dept. of Geology
Determining paleoclimates in the terrestrial environment is difficult yet of increasing interest in many disciplines. Earth scientists have examined the hydrogen isotope ratios delta D of materials that record the delta D of rain which, in turn is dependent on local temperature. These include glacier ice, cave speleothem fluid inclusions, tree wood or peat bog plant cellulose and insect chitin. Bone has long been examined by the archaeologists for the information it can provide about the past. The carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of bone collagen have been used by archaeologists in the reconstruction human paleodiets. The authors expanded on previous studies and measured the delta D values of bone collagen in an effort to provide climatic information pertinent to archeological interpretations. It was found that the delta D and delta N-15 of herbivore bone collagen can be used together to accurately estimate the delta D of local rain from which temperature can then be evaluated. Furthermore, the delta D and delta N-15 of bone collagen along with the delta O-18 of bone phosphate can be used to estimate humidity. The use of bone to evaluate paleoclimate is advantageous in that it can be dated by C-14, it is a widespread, well preserved material in the terrestrial environment and is commonly found in direct association with cultural, paleontological or ecological events of interest. Thus by studying the isotopic signatures of a material that is primarily identified, collected and studied by archaeologists the authors are able to contribute significantly to the problem of determining paleoclimates.
- OSTI ID:
- 5769029
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-921058-; CODEN: GAAPBC
- Journal Information:
- Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States), Vol. 24:7; Conference: 1992 annual meeting of the Geological Society of America (GSA), Cincinnati, OH (United States), 26-29 Oct 1992; ISSN 0016-7592
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SPECIMENS
ISOTOPE RATIO
PALEOCLIMATOLOGY
MEASURING METHODS
CARBON 14
COLLAGEN
DEUTERIUM
EVALUATION
NITROGEN 15
OXYGEN 18
PALEOTEMPERATURE
RAIN
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CARBON ISOTOPES
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
NITROGEN ISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN ISOTOPES
PALEONTOLOGY
PROTEINS
RADIOISOTOPES
SCLEROPROTEINS
STABLE ISOTOPES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
580000* - Geosciences