13C Content of Human Collagen As a Measure of Prehistoric Diet in Woodland North America

摘要: PLANTS with the C4 dicarboxylic acid pathway of photosynthesis have markedly higher 13C/12C ratios than plants C3 or Calvin pathway1–4. Cumulative assessments relative 13C concentration (δ13C) values for plant foliage yield an average −26.5‰, to PDB standard whereas −12.5‰ (ref. 5). These differences in carbon isotope are passed along food chain animals and man, so that nature base can be determined through measurements on different body tissues consumers. In this study, time introduction maize, a plant, prehistoric inhabitants several regions woodland North America, almost exclusively regime, was isotopic human bone collagen. The subsequent elevation maize level diet staple is also documented.