ANT 101 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Trophic Level, Rachis, Mass Spectrometry
Document Summary
An organism"s position in the food chain. Nature of past human diet one of the most important areas of prehistoric research. Human bone composed of organic and mineral compounds and water. Isotopic studies of the composition of bone focus on the organic portion, primarily in the form of the protein collagen. 13c to 12c ratio in bone is measured with a mass spectrometer and reported as a value ranging from about 0 to -30. Ratio of these two isotopes in reflects what is consumed in the diet. Carbon 13 more common in certain kinds of terrestrial plants. Marine plants and animals that consume those plants exhibit carbon isotope ratios ranging between -10 to -18 13c to 12c. Values more positive than -20 indicate a predominance of marine foods in human diet, whereas more negative values are more closely related to the consumption of terrestrial plants and animals.
