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High resolution elemental and isotopic distribution in fossil teeth: Implications for diet and migration

Maxime Aubert1, Rainer Grün,1 Stephen Eggins 1 and Marie-Hélène Moncel2

1 Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
2 Département de Préhistoire Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle 1 Rue René Panhard, 75013 Paris, France

New developments in laser ablation ICPMS permit the measurement of high resolution elemental and isotopic distributions in fossil teeth. For the reconstruction of diets and migrations, Sr and Ca elemental and Sr isotopic distributions were measured on sectioned teeth of a sample set from the site of Payre (Ardèche, France), which included herbivores, omnivores, carnivores and Neanderthals. In order to investigate diagenetic strontium uptake, Sr concentration and isotopic ratios were mapped in a Neanderthal tooth. The Neanderthal tooth showed by far the lowest Sr/Ca ratio of all teeth analysed followed by the carnivores and the herbivores. These observations tend to confirm earlier results based on nitrogen isotopes that had implied that Neanderthals were "super-carnivores" (Bocherens et al., 1999; Richards et al., 2000). On the other hand, post-depositional Sr uptake seems to play a significant role in Sr isotope distribution through the dentine and enamel. Research continues to evaluate whether a two component mixing model can be used to eliminate post mortem Sr contamination. The maps clearly demonstrate that original, perhaps variable Sr isotopic compositions of Neanderthal teeth cannot be obtained by bulk analysis whether or not associated with any leaching protocols.

 


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