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Agricultural lime disturbs natural strontium isotope variations: Implications for provenance and migration studies.

ABSTRACT: The application of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr in prehistoric mobility studies requires accurate strontium reference maps. These are often based from present-day surface waters. However, the use of agricultural lime in low to noncalcareous soils can substantially change the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr compositions of surface waters. Water unaffected by agriculture in western Denmark has an average ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of 0.7124 as compared to an average of 0.7097 in water from nearby farmland. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio obtained from samples over 1.5 km along a stream, which originates in a forest and flows through lime-treated farmland, decreased from 0.7131 to 0.7099. Thus, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr-based mobility and provenance studies in regions with low to noncalcareous soils should be reassessed. For example, reinterpreting the iconic Bronze Age women at Egtved and Skrydstrup using values unaffected by agricultural lime indicates that it is most plausible that these individuals originated close to their burial sites and not far abroad as previously suggested.

SUBMITTER: Thomsen E

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6415960 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Agricultural lime disturbs natural strontium isotope variations: Implications for provenance and migration studies.

Thomsen Erik E Andreasen Rasmus R

Science advances 20190313 3

The application of 87Sr/86Sr in prehistoric mobility studies requires accurate strontium reference maps. These are often based from present-day surface waters. However, the use of agricultural lime in low to noncalcareous soils can substantially change the 87Sr/86Sr compositions of surface waters. Water unaffected by agriculture in western Denmark has an average 87Sr/86Sr ratio of 0.7124 as compared to an average of 0.7097 in wate ...[more]

PMID: 30891501

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Project description:BackgroundThe oxygen (δ(18)O) and carbon (δ(13)C) isotope compositions of bioapatite from skeletal remains of fossil mammals are well-established proxies for the reconstruction of palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic conditions. Stable isotope studies of modern analogues are an important prerequisite for such reconstructions from fossil mammal remains. While numerous studies have investigated modern large- and medium-sized mammals, comparable studies are rare for small mammals. Due to their high abundance in terrestrial ecosystems, short life spans and small habitat size, small mammals are good recorders of local environments.Methodology/findingsThe δ(18)O and δ(13)C values of teeth and bones of seven sympatric modern rodent species collected from owl pellets at a single locality were measured, and the inter-specific, intra-specific and intra-individual variations were evaluated. Minimum sample sizes to obtain reproducible population δ(18)O means within one standard deviation were determined. These parameters are comparable to existing data from large mammals. Additionally, the fractionation between coexisting carbonate (δ(18)O(CO3)) and phosphate (δ(18)O(PO4)) in rodent bioapatite was determined, and δ(18)O values were compared to existing calibration equations between the δ(18)O of rodent bioapatite and local surface water (δ(18)O(LW)). Specific calibration equations between δ(18)O(PO4) and δ(18)O(LW) may be applicable on a taxonomic level higher than the species. However, a significant bias can occur when bone-based equations are applied to tooth-data and vice versa, which is due to differences in skeletal tissue formation times. δ(13)C values reflect the rodents' diet and agree well with field observations of their nutritional behaviour.Conclusions/significanceRodents have a high potential for the reconstruction of palaeoenvironmental conditions by means of bioapatite δ(18)O and δ(13)C analysis. No significant disadvantages compared to larger mammals were observed. However, for refined palaeoenvironmental reconstructions a better understanding of stable isotope signatures in modern analogous communities and potential biases due to seasonality effects, population dynamics and tissue formation rates is necessary.

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Agricultural lime disturbs natural strontium isotope variations: Implications for provenance and migration studies.

Publications

Agricultural lime disturbs natural strontium isotope variations: Implications for provenance and migration studies.

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