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A Pilot Study of Trophic Level and Human Origins at the Xiaoshuangqiao Site, China (ca. 1400 BC) Using δ D Values of Collagen
Author(s) -
WANG Ning,
LI Suting,
HU Yaowu,
SONG Guoding
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
acta geologica sinica ‐ english edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.444
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1755-6724
pISSN - 1000-9515
DOI - 10.1111/1755-6724.13417
Subject(s) - omnivore , trophic level , herbivore , population , stratigraphy , ecology , biology , predation , paleontology , demography , tectonics , sociology
We present here a pilot study to examine trophic level effects and migration patterns at the middle Shang Dynasty site of Xiaoshuangqiao in Henan Province using δ D results combined with δ 13 C and δ 15 N values. A total of 33 specimens (17 humans, 7 cattle, 5 pigs, 3 sheep, 1 dog) of bone collagen were isotopically analyzed for δ 13 C, δ 15 N, and d D values. A strong positive correlation ( R 2 = 0.94) between mean δ 15 N and δ D values of herbivores (cattle and sheep), omnivores (pig), carnivores (dog) and humans was observed. The δ D results were found to increase by ∼10‰ to 20‰ from herbivores to omnivores to carnivorous, evidence that collagen δ D results are a useful indicator for the study of trophic levels and dietary patterns at archaeological sites. The δ D results were also used to examine the origins of two different groups of individuals buried at Xiaoshuangqiao. Individuals buried in sacrificial pits of district V had mean δ D values (−47.0 ± 2.9‰, n = 11) that were significantly (p = 0.049) elevated compared to the people buried in the stratigraphy of district IX (−51.3 ± 3.3‰, n = 3), indicating that they were ingesting water from different locations. In addition, the D values of the people buried in the stratigraphy were similar to the pigs (−54.5 ± 4.2‰, n = 5) at Xiaoshuangqiao, suggesting that they were most probably of the local population, and that the individuals buried in the sacrificial pits were most possibly from the coast and prisoners of the Dongyi (“东夷”) people. Thus, δ D results have the potential to examine human origins and migration patterns and should be increasingly used in conjunction with δ 13 C and δ 15 N values at archaeological sites.