Stable Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope Variability of Bone Collagen to Determine the Number of Isotopically Distinct Specimens

Abstract Archaeological and palaeontological excavations frequently produce large quantities of highly fragmentary bone. These bones can help to answer questions regarding past environments human animal lifeways via a number analytical techniques but this potential is limited by the inability distinguish individual animals generate sufficiently samples. Using stable carbon nitrogen isotope values bone collagen ( δ 13 C, 15 N), we present metric identify isotopically distinct specimens (NIDS) from fragmented faunal assemblages. We quantified amount intra-individual isotopic variation generating data multiple elements representing wide variety taxa as well samples same skeletal element. The mean (inter-bone) was 0.52‰ σ = 0.45) (Euclidean distance between two points in bivariate space), while intra-bone 0.63‰ 0.06). archaeological consisting numbers single sites, inter-individual 1.45‰ 1.15). suggest use 1.50‰ N) space NIDS. Blind tests modelled datasets different size variability resulted rate misclassification (two or more being classified coming individuals) < 5%.