About this Research Topic
Understanding the ancient diet of humans and animals using stable isotope analysis (e.g. carbon, nitrogen, sulfur) requires fundamental knowledge of the baseline ecology. However, many archaeological studies using stable isotope analysis primarily focus on animals and humans, neglecting the plants at the base of the food web. While stable isotope analysis of archaeobotanical remains is becoming more popular, there is still a long way to go before a complete picture of the environmental, ecological and social interaction between flora and fauna is constructed.
The aim of this Research Topic is to highlight the potential of the stable isotope analysis of plants to elucidate past growing conditions and constraints, and understand ecological baselines for palaeodietary reconstruction. This can be achieved through modern growing experiments that examine the mechanistic effects of growing conditions on plant isotope values; studies of plant isotope values in present-day environments; consideration of plant and animal isotope values together to constrain interpretations and archaeological case studies that consider the contribution of plant isotope values to interpretations of palaeodiet and past management practices. Together, such work can improve our understanding and use of plant isotope values in future studies.
This Research Topic is open for all contributions focused on the stable isotope analysis of modern and archaeological plants, including those that include stable isotope analysis of animal remains for comparison.
Topics may include:
- Plant isotope data from modern growing experiments;
- Case studies from archaeological sites;
- Discussion of wider methodological and ethical issues relating to this approach.
The aim of this Research Topic is to highlight the potential of the stable isotope analysis of plants to elucidate past growing conditions and constraints, and understand ecological baselines for palaeodietary reconstruction. This can be achieved through modern growing experiments that examine the mechanistic effects of growing conditions on plant isotope values; studies of plant isotope values in present-day environments; consideration of plant and animal isotope values together to constrain interpretations and archaeological case studies that consider the contribution of plant isotope values to interpretations of palaeodiet and past management practices. Together, such work can improve our understanding and use of plant isotope values in future studies.
This Research Topic is open for all contributions focused on the stable isotope analysis of modern and archaeological plants, including those that include stable isotope analysis of animal remains for comparison.
Topics may include:
- Plant isotope data from modern growing experiments;
- Case studies from archaeological sites;
- Discussion of wider methodological and ethical issues relating to this approach.
Keywords: cereals; charcoal; agriculture; palaeodiet; carbon; nitrogen; sulfur
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
