Archaeologies of Mobility and Movement

Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, CAAF, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, LEA, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, CAAF, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, LEA, Sao Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Long-term resilience of late holocene coastal subsistence system in Southeastern South america.

Isotopic and molecular analysis on human, fauna and pottery remains can provide valuable new insights into the diets and subsistence practices of prehistoric populations. These are crucial to elucidate the resilience of social-ecological systems to cultural and environmental change. Bulk collagen carbon and nitrogen isotopic analysis of 82 human individuals from mid to late Holocene Brazilian archaeological sites (∼6,700 to ∼1,000 cal BP) reveal an adequate protein incorporation and, on the coast, the continuation in subsistence strategies based on the exploitation of aquatic resources despite the introduction of pottery and domesticated plant foods. These results are supported by carbon isotope analysis of single amino acid extracted from bone collagen. Chemical and isotopic analysis also shows that pottery technology was used to process marine foods and therefore assimilated into the existing subsistence strategy. Our multidisciplinary results demonstrate the resilient character of the coastal economy to cultural change during the late Holocene in southern Brazil

Bulk collagen δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N variability (Δδ) in inland and coastal populations.

<p>Note the large isotopic variability in humans from Jab-II.</p

Geographic position of the analysed archaeological records.

<p>Location of the study area showing the archaeological sites from southeast (PCG, MRS) and south (Jab-II, G-IV) regions of Brazil. Satellite imagery from USGS (EarthExplorer) and NASA (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission).</p

Bulk collagen δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values.

<p>Distribution of human and faunal values from Jabuticabeira II (Jab-II), Galheta IV (G-IV), Piaçaguera (PCG) and Moraes (MRS). Fish values also include modern specimens.</p

Average bone collagen δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values of humans, including isotopic variability (Δδ%) and the number of individual analysed.

<p>Average bone collagen δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values of humans, including isotopic variability (Δδ%) and the number of individual analysed.</p

Bulk collagen δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N against alanine δ¹³C values for individuals from Jab-II and G-IV.

<p>Notice the strong positive correlation of alanine δ¹³C values with bulk collagen δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N. Exceptionally alanine is depleted in ¹³C in one individual from G-IV (burial 7) likely implying a larger contribution of C3 plant carbohydrate in the diet.</p

Partial total ion current chromatograms showing the methylated lipids extracted from a ceramic sherd (G18E).

<p>C<i>_n</i>_:<i>x</i> - fatty acids with carbon length <i>n</i> and number of unsaturations <i>x</i>, DC_n - α,ω-dicarboxylic acids with carbon length <i>n,</i> br - branched chain acids, phytanic acid, pristanic acid, 4,8,12-TMTD - 4,8,12-tryimethyltridecanoic acid), IS - internal standard (<i>n</i>-hexatriacontane). <i>m/z</i> 105 ion chromatogram showing the presence of ω(ο-alkylphenyl)alkanoic acids with 16 (+), 18(*), 20(#) and 22 (ο) carbon atoms.</p