Zinc isotope compositions of bone and dental enamel and their relationship to diet
Channel: Recording Archaeology
Date: 2017-01-05

Author - Dr. Jaouen, Klervia, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany (Presenting author)
Co-author(s) - Szpak, Paul, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Co-author(s) - Beasley, Melanie, University of California, San Diego, United States of America
Co-author(s) - Herrscher, Estelle, LAMPEA, MMSH, Aix en Provence, France
Co-author(s) - Colleter, Rozenn, INRAP, Rennes, France
Co-author(s) - Balter, Vincent, ENS Lyon, Lyon, France
Co-author(s) - Schoeninger, Margaret, University of California, San Diego, United States of America
Co-author(s) - Richards, Michael, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Keywords: archeological sciences, dietary tracer, nontraditional isotopes
Presentation Preference - Oral
Isotopic analyses of carbon and nitrogen are conventionally employed in bioarcheology for dietary reconstructions. These
elements are however contained in the bone collagen which deteriorates over time. Mass spectrometry advances now allow
trace element isotope analyses of bioapatite. First studies on Zn isotopes in blood showed its potential as a new dietary tracer.
This contribution aims at testing the influence of diet on Zn isotope compositions of bone and teeth. We investigated the Zn
isotopic variability in bone and tooth enamel of mammals and archaeological human populations characterized by various diets,
environment contexts (arctic, arid, temperate) and historical periods. The samples were purified by column chromatography and
the Zn isotopic ratios were measured using MC-ICP-MS. The isotopic composition of traditional food tracers (d13C and d15N)
has been assessed in parallel. We will show that the Zn isotopic composition in the bones and teeth is strongly influenced by the
trophic level, but that some dietary and environmental factors can generate additional variability. We will discuss the advantages
and limitations of this new tracer by comparing its performance to that of classic isotope analyses.