Archaeometric research

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I request funding support for three projects which involve measurement of the stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratios and radiocarbon dating of natural samples from Arctic areas.1) The first project is to investigate the possibility of radiocarbon dating snow goose bones from archaeological sites in the Canadian Arctic. Radiocarbon dating in the Arctic has been very difficult for various technical reasons, and it is hoped that this work will provide a new, more reliable means. As well, stable isotopic measurements of the goose bones as well as of musk-ox bones from the same sites will provide information on the adaptations of these animals.2) The second project involves similar isotopic measurement of samples of marine mammal bones (primarily seal) from archaeological sites in Greenland and Canada. The isotopic constituents of marine mammals reflect the complexity of the Arctic oceans in which they live. This project is to obtain further data on these past animals and to use that data to better understand their ecological niches and perhaps gain information on Arctic oceanic processes.3) The third project is to continue studies of a newly-observed phenomenon. Here, we have seen that the stable nitrogen isotopic ratios of modern plants growing  on archaeological sites can reflect the human activity which took place there in antiquity. Even though the processes underlying this observation are not yet well understood, it already has shown great promise as a new tool for non-destructive archaeological investigation, and it will likely find use in other fields as well. This project is to continue investigations into the nature of this new tool.