BioArCh, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK.
Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom. 2012 Oct 15;26(19):2359-64. doi: 10.1002/rcm.6349.
The carbon isotopic characterisation of ruminant lipids associated with ceramic vessels has been crucial for elucidating the origins and changing nature of pastoral economies. δ(13)C values of fatty acids extracted from potsherds are commonly compared with those from the dairy and carcass fats of modern domesticated animals to determine vessel use. However, the processing of wild ruminant products in pottery, such as deer, is rarely considered despite the presence of several different species on many prehistoric sites. To address this issue, the carbon isotope range of fatty acids from a number of red deer (Cervus elaphus) tissues, a species commonly encountered in the European archaeological record, was investigated.
Lipids were extracted from 10 modern red deer tissues obtained from the Slowinski National Park (Poland). Fatty acids were fractionated, methylated and analysed by gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GCCIRMS). The δ(13)C values of n-octadecanoic acid and n-hexadecanoic acid, and the difference between these values (Δ(13)C), were compared with those from previously published ruminant fats.
Nine of the ten deer carcass fats measured have Δ(13)C values of less than -3.3‰, the threshold previously used for classifying dairy products. Despite considerable overlap, dairy fats from domesticated ruminants with Δ(13)C values less than -4.3‰ are still distinguishable.
The finding has implications for evaluating pottery use and early pastoralism. The processing of deer tissues and our revised criteria should be considered, especially where there is other archaeological evidence for their consumption.
与陶瓷容器相关的反刍动物脂肪的碳同位素特征对于阐明畜牧业经济的起源和变化性质至关重要。从陶片提取的脂肪酸的δ(13)C 值通常与现代家养动物的奶制品和尸体脂肪的δ(13)C 值进行比较，以确定容器的用途。然而，尽管在许多史前遗址上存在几种不同的物种，但很少考虑到在陶器中加工野生动物产品，如鹿。为了解决这个问题，研究了来自一些马鹿（Cervus elaphus）组织的脂肪酸的碳同位素范围，该物种在欧洲考古记录中很常见。
从 Slowinski 国家公园（波兰）获得的 10 个现代马鹿组织中提取脂质。脂肪酸被分离、甲酯化并通过气相色谱/燃烧/同位素比质谱（GCCIRMS）进行分析。正十八烷酸和正十六烷酸的 δ(13)C 值以及这些值之间的差异（Δ(13)C）与之前发表的反刍动物脂肪进行了比较。
测量的十种鹿尸体脂肪中有九种的 Δ(13)C 值小于-3.3‰，这是以前用于分类奶制品的阈值。尽管有很大的重叠，但 Δ(13)C 值小于-4.3‰的家养反刍动物的奶制品仍然可以区分开来。
这一发现对评估陶器的使用和早期畜牧业具有影响。应考虑鹿组织的加工和我们修订的标准，特别是在有其他考古证据表明它们被消费的情况下。
