Isotope Analysis in Archaeology [Deeper Digs]
Isotope analysis is increasingly used in archaeology to understand the diets, origins, and patterns of mobility of both humans and animals in the past, making it a useful tool for any archaeologist to consider applying in their work. This seminar will introduce nonspecialist archaeologists to the essentials of isotope analysis: what it is, how it works, and what it can be used to understand. The seminar will cover the major isotope systems commonly used in archaeological analysis (carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, strontium, and sulfur) and provide a detailed case study to illustrate how they can be applied and interpreted. The seminar will close with a discussion of scientific and ethical concerns in sampling for isotope analysis.