Application of Dietary Isotopes to Estimate Temporal Context of Unidentified Remains in British Columbia Canada

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2023: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 88th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Isotopic analysis has been used in archaeological and forensic contexts to examine diet, migration, trace evidence, and the origin of individuals. This project examines whether individuals were of a forensic or archaeological context using δ13C, δ15N, and δ34Sisotope values on behalf of the British Columbia Coroners Service. Carbon, nitrogen, and sulphur were analyzed as they are indicators of diet and thus could differentiate an archaeological or contemporary population.

Collagen extraction followed the modified method (Brown et al., 1988). Isotope values were measured using a Thermo V Delta CF-IRMS. Historical populations in British Columbia typically maintained a marine diet resulting in a higher δ15N and δ13C isotopic values. Seven individuals had higher δ15N, δ13C, and on average higher δ34S isotopic values. This supports a marine-based diet, and thus, suggests that these individuals are more likely of an archaeological context. Two individuals reflected a terrestrial diet with lower δ15N, δ13C, and δ34S isotope values. Thus, these two individuals are more likely from a forensic context.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SAA 2023: Individual Abstracts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 88th Annual Meeting, Portland, OR (2023)

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 37252.0