| Abstract: |
Recently, carbon isotope studies using the mineral portion of bone have shown that this is a feasible area of research for providing paleodietary data. Stable carbon isotopes in collagen (δ<super>13</super>C<sub>CO </sub>) reflect primarily the protein portion of diet, whereas stable carbon isotopes in carbonate from bone mineral (δ<super>13</super>C<sub> CA</sub>) reflect the whole diet. While spacing between stable carbon isotopes in carbonate and diet is constant, spacing between stable carbon isotopes in collagen and diet may be variable depending on whether the carbon isotope value of protein equals that of the whole diet. Skeletal material from prehistoric human groups from southern Ontario and San Nicolas Island, Channel Islands, southern California were analyzed for carbon isotopes in both bone mineral and collagen. Results indicate that, in southern Ontario, maize was consumed at an earlier date than is indicated by the analysis of collagen alone, and that, on San Nicolas Island, marine food consumption did not decrease over time as occurred on nearby Channel Islands. The analysis of stable carbon isotopes from bone mineral provides additional paleodietary information to the analysis of stable isotopes from collagen. Low protein foods will be reflected in carbon isotopes in carbonate when consumed in small amounts, whereas they will be reflected in collagen only when consumed in sizeable proportions. Spacing between carbon isotope values in carbonate and collagen permits determination of whether the carbon isotope value of dietary protein is greater or lesser than that of the whole diet.
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