Basic principles of stable isotope analysis in humanitarian forensic science.

While the identity of a victim of a localized disaster – such as a train or bus crash – may be established quickly through personal effects, fingerprints, dental records, and a comparison of decedent DNA to family reference specimen DNA, a different scenario presents itself in mass disasters, such as the Asian Tsunami of 2004. In the aftermath of the tsunami, visual appearance was initially used to assign “foreign” or “indigenous” classifications to the remains of thousands of victims. However, this visual identification approach was undermined by the speed with which bodies deteriorated under the hot and humid conditions. Time was spent populating ante-mortem DNA databases for different nationalities, which led to problems when creating a post-mortem DNA database because recovery of viable DNA was compromised due to rapid decomposition. As a consequence, only 1.3% of victims were identified by DNA; in contrast, 61% were identified based on dental examination, although this process took several months and a significant number of deceased from the 2004 Asian Tsunami still remain to be identified

Chronology of Termination II and the Last Interglacial Period in North Spain based on stable isotope records of stalagmites from Cueva del Cobre (Palencia)

New insight into the timing and structure of the Last Interglacial Period (Eemian) was obtained through U-Th dating of four speleothems from Northern Spain and an analysis of their stable isotope records. The four stalagmites examined were collected from different levels of Cueva del Cobre, a cold high-mountain cave in the Cantabrian Ranges (N Spain), in which speleothem growth took place essentially during the warmer interestadials. Through 18 TIMS and ICPMS datings and 263 stable isotope analyses, the onset of the Eemian interglacial period was precisely dated at 150±2 ka, an age consistent with a few other palaeoclimatic records but notably younger than the age ascribed by the Milankovitch theory. We also date the Eemian–Weichselian transition (~115 ka)for the first time in the Iberian Peninsula. U-Th ages revealed a consistent anomaly at ~105-100 ka BP, which could be related to a drastic environmental change during the MIS-5c interestadial. This event would have caused the resetting of the U-Th system at the base of the stalagmites during a short time interval. In addition, we propose a new simple geochemical test to ensure the lack of disturbance of this type of samples for dating purposes

Remarques sur l'édification des planchers stalagmitiques quaternaires.

L'interprétation des dépôts stalagmitiques comme indicateurs paléoclimatiques est discutée. Les principaux paramètres contrôlant la croissance cristalline de la calcite en grotte sont définis. la datation absolue de ces dépôts est possible par l'étude du déséquilibre des séries de l'Uranium (230TH/234U et 231Pa/235U).Stalagmitic layers are studied as paleoclimatic indicators. The factors which control the growth of calcite in caves are defined. Absolute dating of these layers is possible with Uranium-series method (230Th/234U and 231Pa/235U)

ESR dates for the hominid burial site of Qafzeh in Israel

International audienc

ESR dating of the Neanderthal site, Kebara Cave, Israel

International audienc

Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic fractionation between diet and swine tissues Fracionamento isotópico de carbono e nitrogênio entre a dieta e tecidos de porcos

Naturally occurring stable isotope ratios can be a powerful tool in studies of animal nutrition, provided that the assumptions required for dietary reconstruction are validated by studies such as the one presented here. The objective of this study was to document the magnitude of isotopic fractionation between swine diet and their different tissues. For this, the isotopic ratios of carbon and nitrogen of the diet and selected tissues (hair, nail, liver, muscle, fat and cartilage) were determined. The delta13C and delta15N of the diet were -15.9‰ and 1.3‰, respectively, and all delta15N of swine tissues were 2.2 to 3.0‰ enriched in 15N in relation to the diet. Little variation in delta15N occurred among tissues, with exception to liver that was less enriched in 15N than the nail. Nail and hair presented no 13C enrichment relative to diet. Cartilage was ~1.0‰ enriched in 13C as compared to diet. Liver and muscle were on average 2.1‰ more depleted in 13C in relation to diet as well as fat tissues. Some of the C and N isotope ratios of swine tissues differed in organs, but the isotopic fractionation trends among tissues appears to be similar to other mammals. Therefore our data provide a good baseline to interpret stable isotope patterns in domestic mammals (such as swine) in controlled or semi-controlled experiments.<br>O uso da abundância natural de isótopos estáveis pode ser uma ferramenta útil em estudos de nutrição animal, de forma que a base necessária para a reconstrução da dieta alimentar pode ser validada a partir de estudos como o apresentado aqui. O objetivo deste estudo foi documentar a magnitude do fracionamento isotópico entre a dieta e os tecidos de porcos domésticos. Para tanto, foram determinadas as razões isotópicas de carbono e nitrogênio de alguns tecidos selecionados (pêlo, unha, fígado, músculo, gordura e cartilagem). Os valores de delta13C e delta15N da ração fornecida foram -15,9‰ e 1,3‰, respectivamente. O delta15N desses tecidos ficou entre 2,2 e 3,0‰ mais enriquecido do que a dieta. Pouca variação no delta15N ocorreu entre os tecidos analisados, exceto o fígado que foi significativamente menos enriquecido em 15N do que a unha. A unha e o pêlo não apresentaram enriquecimento em 13C em relação à ração, enquanto a cartilagem ficou ~1‰ mais enriquecida. Os tecidos de fígado e músculo foram, em média, 2,1‰ mais leve em 13C em relação à dieta, assim como o tecido adiposo. Várias das razões isotópicas dos tecidos dos porcos diferiram, mas as tendências no fracionamento isotópico entre os tecidos foram similares ao encontrado em outros mamíferos. Portanto as diferenças encontradas no fracionamento isotópico podem servir de base para a interpretação de padrões isotópicos em animais domésticos oriundos de experimentos controlados ou semi-controlados