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δ^15N and δ^13C measurements of Human Skeltons from Kohun burials in Kyushu, Japan

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Abstract Stable isotope analysis provides important paleodiet information about prehistoric people. Carbon isotope ratios allow differentiation of marine and terrestrial sources, and nitrogen isotope ratios in...dicate the trophic level in the ecological food chains. All the human Skeletal samples for isotopic analysis discussed in this paper were collected by Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University. For the Early Kohun period, 11 human skeletal samples were analyzed, from the Kusaba 2 Site, the Terashima Cist, the Nagaihama Cist, the Taniguchi Kohun, and the Iwaya Cist. For the Middle Kohun period, a total of 10 samples were analyzed, from the Uto No.3 Kohun Site, the Roji Kohun, the Terayama Cist, the Shimoyama Kohun and the Jo No.2 Kohun. For the Late Kohun period, a total of 18 samples were analyzed from the Uenoharu Tunnel Tomb, the Takenami site, the Juichiyikoana Tunnel Tomb and the Houonji No.4 Kohun. One sample from the Ogomori site was of unknown date. About 1 g of bone Sample was crushed to 1 mm or less and decalcified with 0.2 N HCl. The residue was heated at 60℃, at pH 3 in HCl solution to denature the collagen and recover it as gelatin. About 10 mg of freeze dried extracted collagen, or gelatin, were combusted for 2 hours to obtain CO2 gas, at either 520℃ in Pyrex tubes or 900℃ in quartz tubes. Purified CO2 gas samples were measured on a Varian MAT CH7 massspectrometer at the Laboratory of Geochemistry, Faculty of Science, Nagoya University. δ^15N measurements for the collagen samples were done by Shoko Tsushou Ltd., using a Finnegan MAT delta F mass-spectrometry. Kohun people in Kyushu showed comparatively narrow variations in both δ^13C and δ^15N values, between -16.9 and -23.30‰ of δ^13C, and between 8.7 and 14.5‰ for δ^15N values. Relationship between δ^13C-δ^15N distributions and locations of the sites (Fig.4-1) was clear, in that the Samples from coastal sites had higher values for both δ^13C and δ^15N values, suggesting an increase in reliance on aquatic food resources. Chronological deferences in δ^13C-δ^15N distributions (Fig.4-2), where samples were dated to Early, Middle and Late Kohun periods, were not clear. Social status differences were manifest in three categories, with higher ranks being found in Key-shaped Kohuns, middle ranks found in round or square-shaped Kohuns and lower ranks found in the tunnel-tombs (Fig.4-3). samples from the higher-rank skeletons fell in the middle of the δ^13C-δ^15N ranges, samples from the middle-rank skeletons were scattered in the lower ranges of the both δ^13C and δ^15N values, suggesting a higher reliance on rice or terrestrial plants. Samples from the lower-lank skeletons generally had higher δ^13C values, however they showed two groups of δ^15N values; Samples from theJuichi yokoana Tunnel tomb site had higher δ^13C values and lower δ^15N values, suggesting the possibility of C4 plants in their diet. Others had higher δ^15N values suggesting an increase of aquatic food resources. A correlation between δ^13C-δ^15N distribtions and stature for male skeletons (Fig.5) was seen, in that the individuals of greater stature were lower in both δ^13C and δ^15N values.show more

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Created Date 2009.04.22
Modified Date 2023.11.27

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