Archaeometric research

考古研究

• 批准号: 3257-2007
• 负责人: Nelson, Dewart(Erle)
• 金额: $ 1.82万
• 依托单位: Simon Fraser University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2007-01-01 至 2008-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=362392
• 关键词: Archaeometric; research

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.

我请求为三个项目提供资金支持，这些项目涉及测量北极地区自然样品的稳定碳和氮同位素比率以及放射性碳定年。第一个项目是调查加拿大北极地区考古遗址的雪鹅骨放射性碳测年的可能性。由于各种技术原因，在北极进行放射性碳测年一直非常困难，希望这项工作将提供一种新的、更可靠的方法。此外，对同一地点的鹅骨和麝牛骨的稳定同位素测量将提供这些动物适应环境的信息。2)第二个项目涉及对来自格陵兰岛和加拿大考古遗址的海洋哺乳动物（主要是海豹）骨骼样本进行类似的同位素测量。海洋哺乳动物的同位素组成反映了它们所生活的北极海洋的复杂性。这个项目是为了获得这些过去动物的进一步数据，并利用这些数据更好地了解它们的生态位，也许还能获得有关北极海洋过程的信息。第三个项目是继续研究一种新发现的现象。在这里，我们已经看到，在考古遗址上生长的现代植物的稳定氮同位素比率可以反映古代在那里发生的人类活动。尽管这一观察结果背后的过程还没有被很好地理解，但它已经显示出作为一种非破坏性考古调查的新工具的巨大希望，而且它很可能在其他领域也会得到应用。这个项目将继续调查这个新工具的性质。