Stable nitrogen isotope ratios of bone collagen reflect marine and terrestrial components of prehistoric human diet

Journal Article · Fri Jun 24 00:00:00 EDT 1983 · Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.6344217· OSTI ID:5477242

Schoeninger, M J ^[1]; DeNiro, M J; Tauber, H

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1. Univ. of California, Los Angeles

delta/sup 15/N values of bone collagen from Eskimos and from Northwst Coast Indians dependent on salmon fishing are about 10 per mil more positive than those from agriculturalists in historic times. Among prehistoric humans, two groups dependent on marine food sources show bone collagen delta/sup 15/N values that are 4 to 6 per mil more positive than those from two agricultural groups. The nitrogen isotope ratios of bone collagen from prehistoric inhabitants of Bahamas are anomalously low for reasons that relate to the biogeochemical cycle of nitrogen in coral reefs.

• OSTI ID: 5477242
• Journal Information: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Vol. 220
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
COLLAGEN
ISOTOPE RATIO
NITROGEN 15
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
FOOD
SKELETON
BODY
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
NITROGEN ISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PROTEINS
SCLEROPROTEINS
STABLE ISOTOPES
553000* - Agriculture & Food Technology