nscArchaeology, Ethnology & Anthropology of EurasiaАрхеология, этнография и антропология Евразии1563-0110IAET SB RAS10.17746/1563-0110.2024.52.2.047-054nsc-1893Research ArticlePALEOENVIRONMENT. THE STONE AGEПАЛЕОЭКОЛОГИЯ. КАМЕННЫЙ ВЕКTesting the Sample Preparation Method and Oxygen Isotopic Analysis of Tooth Enamel for the Reconstruction of the Birth Seasonality of Ovicaprines (the Case of Teeth from Istykskaya Cave, Eastern Pamir)https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6612-678XBabinaK. A.

Researcher,  ZooSCAn International Research Laboratory, CNRS–IAET SB RAS, IRL 2013, “AIsotopes” Isotope Research Laboratory, Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences; Senior Lecturer, Novosibirsk State University

Pr. Akademika Lavrentieva 17, Novosibirsk, 630090; Pirogova 2, Novosibirsk, 630090

k.babina@g.nsu.ruhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2230-4286ShnaiderS. V.

Senior Researcher, ZooSCAn International Research Laboratory, CNRS–IAET SB RAS, IRL 2013

pr. Akademika Lavrentieva 17, Novosibirsk, 630090

sveta.shnayder@gmail.comhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9256-0475BraginaA. A.

Junior Researcher, “AIsotopes” Isotope Research Laboratory, Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences Assistant, Novosibirsk State University

Pr. Akademika Lavrentieva 17, Novosibirsk, 630090; Pirogova 2, Novosibirsk, 630090

 

Kutateladze 7/3, Novosibirsk, 630090; Pirogova 2, Novosibirsk, 630090

 

bragina@catalysis.ruhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2200-884XParkhomchukE. V.

Senior Researcher, Head of the Center for Collective Use “Geochronology of Cenozoic”, Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences; Acting Head of Chair, Novosibirsk State University

Pr. Akademika Lavrentieva 17, Novosibirsk, 630090; Pirogova 2, Novosibirsk, 630090

 

ekaterina@catalysis.ruInstitute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences; Novosibirsk State UniversityRussian FederationInstitute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of SciencesRussian FederationInstitute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences; Novosibirsk State UniversityRussian Federation2024290620245224754Copyright © Babina K.A., Shnaider S.V., Bragina A.A., Parkhomchuk E.V., 20242024Babina K.A., Shnaider S.V., Bragina A.A., Parkhomchuk E.V.Babina K.A., Shnaider S.V., Bragina A.A., Parkhomchuk E.V.Данная работа распространяется под лицензией Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.https://journal.archaeology.nsc.ru/jour/article/view/1893

Cyclic variations of δ18O along the growth line of M2 and M3 molars provide information about the seasonality of enamel formation and thereby about reproductive seasonality in animals, taking into account the time of tooth eruption and full enamel maturation. Determination of birth seasonality of small ruminants is relevant to the reconstruction of pastoralist strategies. Two peaks of reproductive activity per year are one of the most reliable indicators of human control of the small ruminants. As part of this work, for the first time in Russia, a method of sample preparation and analysis of oxygen isotope ratios in the tooth enamel of small ruminants is proposed. Traditionally, breeding seasonality was evaluated by the isotopic analysis of carbonates, the content of which in dental enamel is only 4 %. According to a new approach, oxygen from a sample is converted to gaseous CO by the interaction of enamel with carbon in a helium flow under 1300 °С, enabling one to measure δ18O in all components of the dental enamel, including phosphates, which make up 90 % of enamel mass and are resistant to diagenesis. In this study, four sample preparation protocols depending on the degree of preservation of teeth and their age were tested: (A) cleaning and sampling of enamel, (B) treatment by H2O2, (C) treatment by NaOCl and CH3COOH, and (D) extraction of Ag3PO4. Results show that for assessing seasonality breeding, it suffices to evaluate the lowest and the highest δ18O along the tooth growth line. If the preservation of sample is good, minimal chemical treatment is enough to observe these extremes.

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The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest present.