Dataset Information

Mediterranean precipitation isoscape preserved in bone collagen δ²H.

ABSTRACT: The prehistory of the Mediterranean region has long been a subject of considerable interest, particularly the links between human groups and regions of origin. We utilize the spatial variation in the δ²H and δ¹⁸O values of precipitation (isoscapes) to develop proxies for geographic locations of fauna and humans. Bone collagen hydrogen isotope ratios (δ²H) in cattle (and to a lesser extent, ovicaprids) across the Mediterranean reflect the isotopic differences observed in rainfall (but δ¹⁸O values do not). We conclude that δ²H in herbivore bone collagen can be used as a geolocation tracer and for palaeoenvironmental studies such as tracing past isotopic variations in the global hydrological cycle. In contrast, human bone δ²H values are relatively tightly grouped and highly distinct from precipitation δ²H values, likely due to human-specific food practices and environmental modifications. Given the inter-species variability in δ²H, care should be taken in the species selected for study.

SUBMITTER: Reynard LM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7244594 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Mediterranean precipitation isoscape preserved in bone collagen δ2H.

Reynard Linda M LM Ryan Saskia E SE Guirguis Michele M Contreras-Martínez Miguel M Pompianu Elisa E Ramis Damià D van Dommelen Peter P Tuross Noreen N

Scientific reports 20200522 1

The prehistory of the Mediterranean region has long been a subject of considerable interest, particularly the links between human groups and regions of origin. We utilize the spatial variation in the δ2H and δ18O values of precipitation (isoscapes) to develop proxies for geographic locations of fauna and humans. Bone collagen hydrogen isotope ratios (δ2H) in cattle (and to a lesser extent, ovicaprids) across the Mediterranean reflect the isotopic differences obse ...[more]

PMID: 32444789

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Project description:The past Asian precipitation δ18O (δ18Op) records from stalagmites and other deposits have shown significant orbital-scale variations, but their climatic implications and regional differences are still not fully understood. This study, as the first attempt of a 300-kyr transient stable isotope-enabled simulation, investigated the characteristics and mechanisms of the orbital-scale δ18Op variations in three representative regions of Asia: arid Central Asia (CA), monsoonal South Asia (SA) and monsoonal East Asia (EA). The modelling results showed that the variations in the CA, SA and EA annual δ18Op exhibited significant but asynchronous 23-kyr precession cycles. Further analyses revealed that although the precession-induced insolation variation was the ultimate cause of the δ18Op variation in all three regions, the dominant mechanisms and the involved physical processes were distinct among them. For the CA region, the rainy-season (November-March) temperature effect and water vapour transport by the westerly circulation were identified as the key precession-scale processes linking the October-February boreal mid-latitude insolation to the rainy-season or annual δ18Op. In the SA region, the rainy-season (June-September) precipitation amount effect and upstream depletion of the monsoonal water vapour δ18O served as the main mechanisms linking the rainy-season or annual δ18Op to the April-July insolation variation at the precession scale. For the EA region, however, the precession-scale annual δ18Op was mainly controlled by the late-monsoon (August-September) and pre-monsoon (April-May) water vapour transport patterns, which were driven by the July-August insolation and the global ice volume, respectively. These results suggest that the climatic implications of the orbital-scale Asia δ18Op variations are sensitive to their geographic locations as determined by the combined effects of insolation and regional circulation patterns associated with the respective rainy seasons. This study provides new insights into understanding the regional differences and formation mechanisms of the Asian orbital-scale δ18Op variations.

Dataset Information

Mediterranean precipitation isoscape preserved in bone collagen δ²H.

Publications

Mediterranean precipitation isoscape preserved in bone collagen δ<sup>2</sup>H.

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