Isotopes in bioarchaeology - Review

The elements of the periodic table are made of populations of isotopes (atoms with the same number of protons, but different number of neutrons). Interestingly, such isotopes may be differentially distributed in the nature. On some instances, such selective fractionation is carried out inside the li...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inArchaeobios no. 6; p. 79
Main Authors Dorado, Gabriel, Rosales, Teresa E, Luque, Fernando, Sánchez-Cañete, Francisco Javier S, Rey, Isabel, Jiménez, Inmaculada, Morales, Arturo, Gálvez, Manuel, Sáiz, Jesús, Sánchez, Adela, Vásquez, Víctor F, Hernández, Pilar
Format Journal Article
LanguageSpanish
Published Trujillo Centro de Investigaciones Arqueobiologicas y Paleologicas Andinas 01.12.2012
Subjects
Archaeology
Carbon
Chemical elements
Genomes
Isotopes
Mammals
Nitrogen
Paleoecology
Radioisotopes
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Summary:The elements of the periodic table are made of populations of isotopes (atoms with the same number of protons, but different number of neutrons). Interestingly, such isotopes may be differentially distributed in the nature. On some instances, such selective fractionation is carried out inside the living organisms, due to their peculiar physiologies. Such is the case of the carbon isotopes in the C3, C4 and CAM plants. Theretofore, it is possible to ascertain the diet of ancient remains, since such isotopic differential distribution is transmitted through the trophic chain. Other examples of isotopes used in archaeology include the nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, sulfur, strontium, calcium, lead, selenium, zinc, potassium and aluminium. Some isotopes are stable, but others are radioactive and thus decay with time, being therefore an invaluable tool for dating archaeological remains. This way, it is not only possible to determine the age of inorganic and organic material, but also to study paleodiets, paleomobilities and paleoclimates in paleoecological contexts.
ISSN:1996-5214