Down To The Bone: Transforming Isotope Analysis Through The Temporal Investigation Of Human And Animal Bone

稳定同位素分析是考古学中普遍存在的研究应用，稳定的碳和氮同位素通常用于揭示过去人类社会的饮食生态。然而，令人惊讶的是，很少有人知道它周围的时间分辨率，随着时间的推移，陷阱已经出现在目前使用的传统批量方法。该项目将通过骨骼单个部分内代谢测序的经验证据来解决时间性问题，以消除多种元素的使用，减少对有限考古材料的破坏。这将为全球的采样策略和考古解释提供指导，并大大提高骨骼材料采样时的伦理考虑和数据产量。由于我们对骨代谢及其在元素之间的变化的理解，目前用于阐明过去文明中饮食传记的方法需要每个人的几个骨骼元素来捕获不同时间段的饮食信号。然而，这导致多个元素被部分破坏，并且比较不同功能的不同骨骼的有效性已经被仔细检查（例如，Fahy et al. 2017）。与此同时，研究表明，时间的变化存在于同一骨架元素（例如，Matsubayashi and Tayasu 2019; Matsuo et al. 2019）。因此，该项目将探索一种新的单元素方法的潜力，即沿着一根骨头的生长轴采集多个连续样本（遵循Matsubayashi和Tayasu 2019），增加考古信息，同时最大限度地减少破坏。肱骨和股骨是研究中的两个元素，因为它们具有坚固的性质和皮质厚度。在人类遗骸附近，将对大型家养动物进行类似的研究，以更高的时间分辨率探索畜牧业做法。还将通过观察和比较两足动物（人类）和四足动物（动物群）上肢骨骼的代谢趋势来检查机械负荷的影响。生化变化将通过多个连续片段之间的碳和氮同位素值进行检查。与包括骨单位人口密度在内的组织形态计量学应用相结合，这将在整个采样样带中建立时间分辨率。统计分析将揭示不同证据线之间的关系，主要是重塑率、同位素值和相应骨段之间的关系。还将评估使用其他科学应用的研究进展潜力（例如蛋白质组学，化合物特异性同位素分析）。目的-更好地了解皮质骨重建中的元素内变化以及这如何影响同位素值。使用组织形态测量技术建立代谢年表，对人类皮质骨内的骨重建变化进行整体研究。重新审视组合，进行多元素同位素分析，以比较证据线。检查使用节段性骨胶原蛋白分析动物遗骸的有效性，以推断畜牧技术。为新的取样策略提供指导，以解决生活史，文化或社会变迁，以及对过去饮食的解释等具体考古问题，并减少对考古遗迹的破坏性影响。建立皮质骨代谢年表有可能改革如何进行考古遗迹的同位素分析。随着所进行的分析数量不断增加，至关重要的是，我们的抽样要更好地了解情况，我们要能够了解我们正在分析的时间表。在介绍一种新颖的采样策略时，可以从一个单一的元素中收集多个时间平均值，我希望改进我们的考古科学技术和道德标准

Stable isotope analysis is a ubiquitous research application in archaeology with stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes being routinely used to reveal the dietary ecology of past human societies. However, surprisingly little is known of the temporal resolution surrounding it and, over time, pitfalls have appeared in the traditional bulk method currently utilised. This project will address the issue of temporality through empirical evidence of metabolic sequencing within a single section of bone to eliminate the use of multiple elements, reducing the destruction of finite archaeological material. This will provide guidance for sampling strategies and archaeological interpretations globally, and substantially improve ethical considerations and data yield when sampling skeletal material. Current methods used to elucidate dietary biographies in past civilisations require several skeletal elements per individual to capture dietary signals for different time periods due to our understanding of bone metabolism and its variation between elements. However, this results in multiple elements being partially destroyed and the validity of comparing different bones of differing functions has been scrutinised (e.g., Fahy et al. 2017). Meanwhile, research suggests that temporal variability exists within the same skeletal element (e.g., Matsubayashi and Tayasu 2019; Matsuo et al. 2019). Thus, this project will explore the potential for a new single-element method, where multiple successive samples are taken along the growth axis of one bone (following Matsubayashi and Tayasu 2019), multiplying archaeological information whilst minimising destruction. The humerus and the femur are the two elements under investigation, due to their robust nature and cortical thickness. Adjacent to human remains, large domestic fauna will be similarly studied, to explore husbandry practices at a higher temporal resolution. The effect of mechanical loading will also be examined by observing and comparing trends in metabolism in the upper limb bones between bipeds (humans) and quadrupeds (fauna). Biochemical variation will be examined by carbon and nitrogen isotope values between multiple successive segments. Paired with histomorphometric applications including osteon population density, this will establish a temporal resolution across the sampled transect. Statistical analyses will reveal the relationships between the different lines of evidence, predominantly the relationship between remodelling rates, isotope values and respective bone segments. The potential for advancement in the research using other scientific applications will also be assessed (e.g, proteomics, compound-specific isotope analysis).Objectives- To better understand intra-element variation in cortical bone remodeling and how this impacts isotope values.- To create a holistic study of bone remodelling variation within human cortical bone using histomorphometric techniques to establish a metabolic chronology.- To revisit assemblages where multiple-element isotope analysis was carried out to compare the lines of evidence.- Examine the validity of using segmental bone collagen analysis on faunal remains to make inferences on husbandry techniques.- To provide guidance for new sampling strategies to address specific archaeological questions on life histories, cultural or social shifts, and interpretations of past diets and reduce the destructive impact on archaeological remains.Establishing the metabolic chronology of cortical bone has the potential to reform how isotope analysis of archaeological remains is carried out. With the ever-increasing amount of analyses being undertaken, it is vital that our sampling is better informed and that we can understand the timescale that we are analysing. In introducing a novel sampling strategy where multiple time averages can be collected from just a single element, I hope to refine both our technical and ethical standards for archaeological science