Isotopes in the landscape : carbon and nitrogen isotopes of domestic animals and their application to the archaeology of the Upper and Middle Thames Valley in the Neolithic to Roman periods
This thesis deals with the development of farming landscapes in the Thames Valley from the Neolithic to the Roman period (4000 BCE - 410 CE). The focus is on the major domestic animal species, cattle, sheep and pig, and their roles in the agroecosystem, traced using carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios measured in collagen. The large dataset of faunal isotope values from a limited area, obtained from sites with extensive archaeological and environmental information, allowed a thorough characterisation of variability in isotope values, within and between species, sites, archaeological periods, and landscape regions. Isotope ratios in a flock of modern sheep showed less variability than archaeological assemblages. Linear mixed models were used to analyse variation in isotope values in 1490 archaeological samples from 23 sites. The pattern of change over time differed for cattle, sheep and pig, reflecting both wide-scale environmental change and changes in animal management. d13C values of cattle and pigs reflected the loss of primary closed-canopy woodland. Pig management changed from an emphasis on woodland resources to a closer association with settlement and consumption of anthropogenic waste. Herbivore d15N
Hamilton, Julie
Agriculture ; Prehistoric--England--Thames Valley ; Animal remains (Archaeology)--England--Thames Valley ; Landscape archaeology--England--Thames Valley ; Carbon--Isotopes--Analysis ; Nitrogen--Isotopes--Analysis ; Thames Valley (England)--Antiquities
Isotopes in the landscape : carbon and nitrogen isotopes of domestic animals and their application to the archaeology of the Upper and Middle Thames Valley in the Neolithic to Roman periods. This thesis deals with the development of farming landscapes in the Thames Valley from the Neolithic to the Roman period (4000 BCE - 410 CE). The focus is on the major domestic animal species, cattle, sheep and pig, and their roles in the agroecosystem, traced using carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios measured in collagen. The large dataset of faunal isotope values from a limited area, obtained from sites with extensive archaeological and environmental information, allowed a thorough characterisation of variability in isotope values, within and between species, sites, archaeological periods, and landscape regions. Isotope ratios in a flock of modern sheep showed less variability than archaeological assemblages. Linear mixed models were used to analyse variation in isotope values in 1490 archaeological samples from 23 sites. The pattern of change over time differed for cattle, sheep and pig, reflecting both wide-scale environmental change and changes in animal management. d13C values of cattle and pigs reflected the loss of primary closed-canopy woodland. Pig management changed from an emphasis on woodland resources to a closer association with settlement and consumption of anthropogenic waste. Herbivore d15N
isotopes landscape carbon_nitrogen isotopes domestic_animal application archaeology upper middle thames_valley neolithic roman_period deal development farm landscape thames valley neolithic roman_period focus major domestic_animal specie cattle_sheep pig roles trace use carbon_nitrogen isotope_ratio measure collagen large_dataset faunal isotope_value limit area obtain site extensive archaeological environmental information allow thorough characterisation variability isotope_value within specie site archaeological period landscape region isotope_ratio flock modern sheep show less variability archaeological_assemblage linear mixed model use analyse variation isotope_value archaeological sample_site pattern change_time differ cattle_sheep pig reflect wide scale environmental_change change animal management value cattle pig reflect loss primary closed canopy woodland pig management change emphasis woodland resources closer association settlement consumption anthropogenic waste herbivore