Challenges and Future Directions in Plant Stable Isotope Analysis in Archaeology

Part of: Society for American Archaeology 84th Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM (2019)

This collection contains the abstracts of the papers presented in the session entitled "Challenges and Future Directions in Plant Stable Isotope Analysis in Archaeology," at the 84th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

This session aims to bring together researchers that have carried out methodological advancements in and applied the technique of plant stable isotope analysis to answer questions regarding the impact of past climate and agriculture on human societies. Experimental studies have provided us with a glimpse of the interpretative potential of plant carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) values and strontium ratios (87Sr/86Sr) for understanding ancient crop cultivation practices. The application of stable isotope analysis in archaeobotany has been accompanied by debates on the issues of charring, preservation, and contamination, but no rules have yet been set for identifying unreliable samples. In this session, the contributors are encouraged to discuss the challenges that they have faced with sampling, analyzing and interpreting ancient plant materials. The focus will be on identifying methodological avenues that necessitate further investigation and on better defining the boundaries of interpretation of crop stable isotope analysis within archaeology.

Other Keywords
Paleoethnobotany • Subsistence and Foodways • Neolithic • Experimental Archaeology • Stable Isotopes • Iron Age • Agroecology • Andes: Formative • Environment and Climate  • Andes: Middle Horizon

Geographic Keywords
Republic of Turkey (Country) • Republic of Armenia (Country) • Georgia (Country) • Republic of Peru (Country) • French Republic (Country) • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Nort (Country) • Ireland (Country) • Isle of Man (Country) • Kingdom of Belgium (Country) • Bailiwick of Guernsey (Country)