title: Oxygen isotope analysis of human bone phosphate evidences weaning age in archaeological populations.
abstract: Here we report bone phosphate oxygen (δ(18)Op) values from perinates/neonates and infants (<3.5 years; n = 32); children (4-12 years; n = 12); unsexed juveniles (16-18 years; n = 2); and adult bones (n = 17) from Wharram Percy, North Yorkshire, England, in order to explore the potential of this method to investigate patterns of past breastfeeding and weaning. In prior studies, δ(15)N and δ(13)C analyses of bone collagen have been utilized to explore weaning age in this large and well-studied assemblage, rendering this material highly appropriate for the testing and development of this alternative method targeting the inorganic phase of bone. Data produced reveal (18)O-enrichment in the youngest perinatal/neonatal and infant samples, and an association between age and bone δ(18)Op (and previously-published δ(15)N values), with high values in both these isotope systems likely due to breastfeeding. After the age of 2-3 years, δ(18)Op values are lower, and all children between the ages of 4 and 12, along with the vast majority of sub-adults and adults sampled (aged 16 to >50 years), have δ(18)Op values consistent with the consumption of local modern drinking water. The implications of this study for the reconstruction of weaning practices in archaeological populations are discussed, including variations observed with bone δ(15)Ncoll and δ(18)Op co-analysis and the influence of culturally-modified drinking water and seasonality. The use of this method to explore human mobility and palaeoclimatic conditions are also discussed with reference to the data presented.
authors: Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.|Department of Archaeology, University of Aberdeen, St. Mary's Building, Aberdeen, Scotland AB24 3UF, UK.
authors: Kate
authors: K
authors: Britton
authors: Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.|Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics, Center for Archaeological Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Charles Deberiotstraat 32, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium.
authors: Benjamin T
authors: BT
authors: Fuller
authors: Institute of Geosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128, Mainz, Germany.|Steinmann Institute, Division of Mineralogy, University of Bonn, Poppelsdorfer Schloss, 53115, Bonn, Germany.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Tütken
authors: Archaeological Science, English Heritage Centre for Archaeology, Fort Cumberland, Eastney, Portsmouth, PO4 9LD, UK.
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Mays
authors: Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.|Department of Anthropology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z1.
authors: Michael P
authors: MP
authors: Richards
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000885:Anthropology, Physical; D001106:Archaeology; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000266:history; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D006882:Hydroxyapatites / Q000032:analysis*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010103:Oxygen Isotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D012272:Ribs / Q000737:chemistry; D014070:Tooth / Q000737:chemistry; D014886:Weaning; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006882:Hydroxyapatites; D010103:Oxygen Isotopes
keywords: Medieval; bioapatite; breastfeeding; palaeoclimate; tooth