Department of Anthropology, The University of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
PLoS One. 2022 Feb 2;17(2):e0262435. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262435. eCollection 2022.
This paper explores the potential of combining different isotope systems from different tissues to improve resolution when reconstructing breastfeeding and weaning practices (BWP) in archaeology. Additionally, we tested whether changes in diet can be detected in deciduous teeth. Rib collagen samples from 22 infants/children from the archaeological site of Bacuranao I (Mayabeque, Cuba) were processed for nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13Cco) stable isotopes and assessed using a Bayesian model (WARN). In addition, enamel of 48 teeth from 30 infants/children were analyzed for oxygen (δ18Oen) and carbon (δ13Cen) stable isotopes. Data revealed that the timing of weaning cannot be characterized precisely by analyzing either δ18O or δ15N. While a depletion in both δ15N and δ13Cco is only evident after one year, the WARN model suggested that the weaning process started at around 3 months and ended around 1.7 years. Most teeth were enriched in δ18Oen compared to deciduous incisors, suggesting a breastfeeding signal. However, a high variability in δ18O was found between similar teeth from the same individuals. Higher enrichment in δ18Oen, and variability, was observed in tissues formed during the first six months of life. A δ13C enrichment of 1.0‰ was observed among deciduous teeth and ribs. While most individuals enriched in δ15N showed enrichment in δ13C, the δ18O values were more variable. Our data suggests that stable isotopes of deciduous teeth, especially δ13Cen, can be used to detect changes in diet during the weaning process. It is also possible that the δ18O enrichment observed in M1 is influenced by the effects of cooking techniques on weaning foods. The combination of multiple isotope systems and tissues overcome some of the limitations posed by single tissue approaches.
本文探讨了结合不同组织中不同同位素系统的潜力，以提高考古学中重建母乳喂养和断奶实践（BWP）的分辨率。此外，我们还测试了饮食变化是否可以在乳牙中检测到。从古巴Mayabeque 的 Bacuranao I 考古遗址的 22 名婴儿/儿童的肋骨胶原蛋白样本进行了氮（δ15N）和碳（δ13Cco）稳定同位素处理，并使用贝叶斯模型（WARN）进行了评估。此外，还对 30 名婴儿/儿童的 48 颗牙齿的牙釉质进行了氧（δ18Oen）和碳（δ13Cen）稳定同位素分析。数据表明，通过分析 δ18O 或 δ15N 都不能精确描述断奶时间。虽然 δ15N 和 δ13Cco 的消耗仅在一年后才明显，但 WARN 模型表明，断奶过程始于大约 3 个月，结束于大约 1.7 岁。与乳牙切牙相比，大多数牙齿的 δ18Oen 富集，表明存在母乳喂养信号。然而，同一个体的相似牙齿之间发现 δ18O 存在高度变异性。在生命的头六个月形成的组织中观察到 δ18Oen 的更高富集和变异性。在乳牙和肋骨中观察到 δ13C 的 1.0‰富集。虽然大多数富集 δ15N 的个体也富集 δ13C，但 δ18O 值的变异性更大。我们的数据表明，乳牙的稳定同位素，特别是 δ13Cen，可以用于检测断奶过程中饮食的变化。在 M1 中观察到的 δ18O 富集也可能受到烹饪技术对断奶食品的影响。多种同位素系统和组织的结合克服了单一组织方法带来的一些局限性。
