Exploring the potential of human bone and teeth collagen from Prehistoric Cyprus for isotopic analysis

Gwenaëlle Goude; Joanne Clarke; Jennifer M.  Webb; David Frankel; Giorgos Georgiou; Estelle Herrscher; Kirsi O. Lorentz

doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2018.09.018

Exploring the potential of human bone and teeth collagen from Prehistoric Cyprus for isotopic analysis

Gwenaëlle Goude, Joanne Clarke, Jennifer M. Webb, David Frankel, Giorgos Georgiou, Estelle Herrscher, Kirsi O. Lorentz

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This pilot study attempts to document the potential of Prehistoric human bone and teeth collagen from Cyprus (9th-2nd mill. BC), for isotopic analysis and palaeodietary reconstruction. We sampled archaeological human skeletons and some faunal remains coming from six sites located in different locations, with different burial modes. The analysis of carbon and nitrogen elemental compositions and stable isotope ratios (δ13C, δ15N), indicate an extremely poor preservation of collagen, probably in relationship with burying conditions. Although very few individuals were successfully analysed, stable isotope data from this study allow a discussion on different protein food resources intake by humans in comparison with some other published data in the Near East (Greece, Cyprus, Turkey) from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age. These diachronic data provide documentations for future studies, including palaeodietary and environmental field research.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	115-122
Number of pages	8
Journal	Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports
Volume	22
Early online date	1 Oct 2018
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2018.09.018
Publication status	Published - Dec 2018

Keywords

Cyprus
Chalcolithic
Bronze Age
Bone
Teeth
Collagen
Carbon
Nitrogen
Palaeodiet

Access to Document

10.1016/j.jasrep.2018.09.018

Cite this

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title = "Exploring the potential of human bone and teeth collagen from Prehistoric Cyprus for isotopic analysis",

abstract = "This pilot study attempts to document the potential of Prehistoric human bone and teeth collagen from Cyprus (9th-2nd mill. BC), for isotopic analysis and palaeodietary reconstruction. We sampled archaeological human skeletons and some faunal remains coming from six sites located in different locations, with different burial modes. The analysis of carbon and nitrogen elemental compositions and stable isotope ratios (δ13C, δ15N), indicate an extremely poor preservation of collagen, probably in relationship with burying conditions. Although very few individuals were successfully analysed, stable isotope data from this study allow a discussion on different protein food resources intake by humans in comparison with some other published data in the Near East (Greece, Cyprus, Turkey) from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age. These diachronic data provide documentations for future studies, including palaeodietary and environmental field research.",

keywords = "Cyprus, Chalcolithic, Bronze Age, Bone, Teeth, Collagen, Carbon, Nitrogen, Palaeodiet",

author = "Gwena{\"e}lle Goude and Joanne Clarke and Webb, {Jennifer M.} and David Frankel and Giorgos Georgiou and Estelle Herrscher and Lorentz, {Kirsi O.}",

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doi = "10.1016/j.jasrep.2018.09.018",

language = "English",

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T1 - Exploring the potential of human bone and teeth collagen from Prehistoric Cyprus for isotopic analysis

AU - Goude, Gwenaëlle

AU - Clarke, Joanne

AU - Webb, Jennifer M.

AU - Frankel, David

AU - Georgiou, Giorgos

AU - Herrscher, Estelle

AU - Lorentz, Kirsi O.

PY - 2018/12

Y1 - 2018/12

N2 - This pilot study attempts to document the potential of Prehistoric human bone and teeth collagen from Cyprus (9th-2nd mill. BC), for isotopic analysis and palaeodietary reconstruction. We sampled archaeological human skeletons and some faunal remains coming from six sites located in different locations, with different burial modes. The analysis of carbon and nitrogen elemental compositions and stable isotope ratios (δ13C, δ15N), indicate an extremely poor preservation of collagen, probably in relationship with burying conditions. Although very few individuals were successfully analysed, stable isotope data from this study allow a discussion on different protein food resources intake by humans in comparison with some other published data in the Near East (Greece, Cyprus, Turkey) from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age. These diachronic data provide documentations for future studies, including palaeodietary and environmental field research.

AB - This pilot study attempts to document the potential of Prehistoric human bone and teeth collagen from Cyprus (9th-2nd mill. BC), for isotopic analysis and palaeodietary reconstruction. We sampled archaeological human skeletons and some faunal remains coming from six sites located in different locations, with different burial modes. The analysis of carbon and nitrogen elemental compositions and stable isotope ratios (δ13C, δ15N), indicate an extremely poor preservation of collagen, probably in relationship with burying conditions. Although very few individuals were successfully analysed, stable isotope data from this study allow a discussion on different protein food resources intake by humans in comparison with some other published data in the Near East (Greece, Cyprus, Turkey) from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age. These diachronic data provide documentations for future studies, including palaeodietary and environmental field research.

KW - Cyprus

KW - Chalcolithic

KW - Bronze Age

KW - Bone

KW - Teeth

KW - Collagen

KW - Carbon

KW - Nitrogen

KW - Palaeodiet

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