Stable Isotopes and Multiple Tissue Analysis: Reconstructing Life Histories for Individuals from Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt
January 2012
in “
STARS (University of Central Florida)
”
TLDR Analyzing isotopes from different tissues can effectively reveal detailed life histories of individuals.
The study utilized stable isotope analysis of δ13C and δ15N from various tissues to reconstruct life histories of 15 individuals from the Romano-Christian period Kellis 2 cemetery in Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt. By examining tissues such as tooth dentin, bone collagen, hair, nail, skin, and gut content, the research provided insights into individual diets and health statuses over their lifetimes. This approach demonstrated that individual-level analysis is feasible and informative, offering a model for using isotope data to understand both individual and population-level histories.
