Session: #345

Content:

Understanding the ancient diet of humans and animals using stable isotope analysis (e.g., carbon, nitrogen, sulphur) fundamentally requires knowledge of the baseline ecology. However, many archaeological studies using stable isotope analysis primarily focus on animals and humans. Stable isotope analysis of archaeobotanical remains is becoming more popular, but there is still a long way to go before a complete picture of the environmental, ecological and social interaction between flora and fauna is constructed. Currently, nitrogen isotopes in cereals and pulses have been shown to relate to soil amendment strategies, such as manuring and bio-fertilisation. Strategies like these will elevate the baseline nitrogen isotope value and impact reconstructions of palaeodiet if such 15N-enrichment is not taken into account. Carbon isotope values from cereals primarily relates to water use efficiency/availability and can therefore provide information on watering/irrigation practices. On the other hand, sulphur isotope analysis of modern plants has not been methodically investigated and thus, our interpretation of ancient sulphur isotopes is uncertain. We encourage researchers conducting stable isotope analysis of modern and archaeological plants to attend and present their findings: whether their study represents a modern plot experiment, or a case study from an archaeological site. We particularly invite researchers who are analysing both archaeobotanical and zooarchaeological remains for stable isotope analysis to constrain and understand ecological base levels.

Session: #345

Theme & Session Format

Title & Content

Organisers