Calcium isotopes in sheep dental enamel : a new approach to studying weaning and dairying in the archaeological record
Calcium isotope ratios (<sup>44</sup>Ca/<sup>42</sup>Ca) have shown promise as a milk dietary tracer. Previous studies have focused on bone but, due to homeostatic processes, &delta;<sup>44/42</sup>Ca values are highly variable. This has greatly complicated the identification of mammal milk consumption through bone analysis, resulting in a search for an alternative. This thesis describes controlled studies to assess the effects of milk consumption on &delta;<sup>44/42</sup>Ca values in bulk and sequential samples of dental enamel, using modern samples from Yorkshire, England, the Isle of Hoy, Scotland, and archaeological samples from Abu Hureyra, Syria. The samples from Yorkshire consisted of dental enamel, ewe milk, feed and bone. Dental enamel was sampled from the Hoy sheep. Milk and plants are the greatest contributors of calcium in the mammal diet. Feed and ewe milk samples confirmed that milk has lower &delta;<sup>44/42</sup>Ca values than plants in the diet, and with a common diet between ewes, uniform milk &delta;<sup>44/42</sup>Ca values are produced. Also, there is a significant difference between bulk molar enamel &delta;<sup>44/42</sup>Ca values between males and females, with males having higher
Wright, Carrie Carlota
Archeology ; Archaeological Science ; Dietary Isotopes ; Calcium isotopes ; dental enamel ; bone ; milk ; weaning ; dairying ; Neolithic
Calcium isotopes in sheep dental enamel : a new approach to studying weaning and dairying in the archaeological record. Calcium isotope ratios (<sup>44</sup>Ca/<sup>42</sup>Ca) have shown promise as a milk dietary tracer. Previous studies have focused on bone but, due to homeostatic processes, &delta;<sup>44/42</sup>Ca values are highly variable. This has greatly complicated the identification of mammal milk consumption through bone analysis, resulting in a search for an alternative. This thesis describes controlled studies to assess the effects of milk consumption on &delta;<sup>44/42</sup>Ca values in bulk and sequential samples of dental enamel, using modern samples from Yorkshire, England, the Isle of Hoy, Scotland, and archaeological samples from Abu Hureyra, Syria. The samples from Yorkshire consisted of dental enamel, ewe milk, feed and bone. Dental enamel was sampled from the Hoy sheep. Milk and plants are the greatest contributors of calcium in the mammal diet. Feed and ewe milk samples confirmed that milk has lower &delta;<sup>44/42</sup>Ca values than plants in the diet, and with a common diet between ewes, uniform milk &delta;<sup>44/42</sup>Ca values are produced. Also, there is a significant difference between bulk molar enamel &delta;<sup>44/42</sup>Ca values between males and females, with males having higher
calcium isotopes sheep dental_enamel new study dairying archaeological_record calcium isotope_ratio work art show promise milk dietary previous_study focus bone due process value highly variable greatly complicate identification mammal milk consumption bone analysis result search alternative describes control study assess effect milk consumption value bulk sequential sample dental_enamel use modern_sample yorkshire england isle scotland archaeological sample syria sample yorkshire consist dental_enamel milk fee bone dental_enamel sample sheep milk plant great contributor calcium mammal diet feed milk sample confirm milk lower value plant diet common diet uniform milk value produce also significant_difference bulk molar enamel value male_female male higher