Abstract
Stable isotopic analyses of herbivorous mammal remains are a powerful and globally applied tool for reconstructing past environments and ecological histories from archaeological sites. For Australia, a substantial corpus of foundational literature has competently established the environmental sources of isotopic variation in modern kangaroo and wallaby species. However, despite the pervasive distribution of these kinds of macropods in contemporary and archaeological contexts, isotopic techniques are utilised infrequently. Our review of the history of macropod isotopic analysis identifies and proposes solutions to the complexities that have inhibited its widespread application in Australian archaeology. This includes a description of relevant basic principles including ecology, physiology and isotopic fractionation. To support our claims for the considerable research potential of macropod remains, we present preliminary analyses of tooth enamel carbonates from archaeological deposits at Boodie Cave, Barrow Island, located in Australia's northwest arid zone.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 144-154 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports |
| Volume | 17 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Feb 2018 |
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Macropods and measurables : A critical review of contemporary isotopic approaches to palaeo-environmental reconstructions in Australian zooarchaeology. / Skippington, Jane; Manne, Tiina; Veth, Peter.
In: Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, Vol. 17, 01.02.2018, p. 144-154.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Macropods and measurables
T2 - A critical review of contemporary isotopic approaches to palaeo-environmental reconstructions in Australian zooarchaeology
AU - Skippington, Jane
AU - Manne, Tiina
AU - Veth, Peter
PY - 2018/2/1
Y1 - 2018/2/1
N2 - Stable isotopic analyses of herbivorous mammal remains are a powerful and globally applied tool for reconstructing past environments and ecological histories from archaeological sites. For Australia, a substantial corpus of foundational literature has competently established the environmental sources of isotopic variation in modern kangaroo and wallaby species. However, despite the pervasive distribution of these kinds of macropods in contemporary and archaeological contexts, isotopic techniques are utilised infrequently. Our review of the history of macropod isotopic analysis identifies and proposes solutions to the complexities that have inhibited its widespread application in Australian archaeology. This includes a description of relevant basic principles including ecology, physiology and isotopic fractionation. To support our claims for the considerable research potential of macropod remains, we present preliminary analyses of tooth enamel carbonates from archaeological deposits at Boodie Cave, Barrow Island, located in Australia's northwest arid zone.
AB - Stable isotopic analyses of herbivorous mammal remains are a powerful and globally applied tool for reconstructing past environments and ecological histories from archaeological sites. For Australia, a substantial corpus of foundational literature has competently established the environmental sources of isotopic variation in modern kangaroo and wallaby species. However, despite the pervasive distribution of these kinds of macropods in contemporary and archaeological contexts, isotopic techniques are utilised infrequently. Our review of the history of macropod isotopic analysis identifies and proposes solutions to the complexities that have inhibited its widespread application in Australian archaeology. This includes a description of relevant basic principles including ecology, physiology and isotopic fractionation. To support our claims for the considerable research potential of macropod remains, we present preliminary analyses of tooth enamel carbonates from archaeological deposits at Boodie Cave, Barrow Island, located in Australia's northwest arid zone.
KW - Isotopes
KW - Late Pleistocene
KW - Macropod
KW - North-west Australia
KW - Palaeo-environment
KW - Zooarchaeology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85033557851&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jasrep.2017.11.010
DO - 10.1016/j.jasrep.2017.11.010
M3 - Review article
VL - 17
SP - 144
EP - 154
JO - Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports
JF - Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports
SN - 2352-409X
ER -