Analysis of stable carbon isotopes in ________ can provide information on ancient diet.
Biology · High School · Mon Jan 18 2021
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Analysis of stable carbon isotopes in bones and teeth can provide information on ancient diet.
Mass spectrometric analysis of the stable carbon isotope composition (13C/12C or delta 13C) of bone collagen from human remains recovered at archaeological sites provides a direct chemical method for investigating dietary patterns of prehistoric human populations. This methodology is based on the facts that (1) different food items within the human diet have distinct delta 13C values, and (2) the delta 13C value of human bone collagen is determined by the delta 13C value of the diet.