sarah viner (university of sheffield) jane evans (nigl)
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Cattle on the hoof: using Sr isotope analysis to
investigate cattle mobility in Late Neolithic Britain
Sarah Viner (University of Sheffield)Jane Evans (NIGL)
Umberto Albarella (University of Sheffield)Mike Parker Pearson (University of Sheffield)
Strontium isotope analysis• The amount of biologically available Sr is related to
underlying geology. • Sr enters the food chain and is fixed in tooth enamel during
the development of the tooth.• 87Sr/86Sr of tooth enamel is an indication of the geological
conditions prevalent during tooth development. • Cattle teeth grow incrementally, so the tip of the tooth is
older than the base.• By comparing 87Sr/86Sr from cattle teeth with the local
signature we can determine whether an animal was grazed in the local area.
Sites used in the pilot study.
Poulton Chapel House Farm
Welland Bank Quarry
Durrington Walls
Methods
The pilot study• Mandibular second molars
(birth – 10 months)• Samples came from the
lingual part of the anterior pillar.
• Mandibular bone.• 6 sections
The main study• Mandibular third molars (10
months – 2 years)• Samples came from the
lingual part of the anterior pillar.
• Tooth dentine.• 3 sections
Results of the pilot study
0.707
0.708
0.709
0.710
0.711
0.712
0.713
0.714
0.715
0.716
87Sr
/86Sr
87Sr/86Sr results from the pilot study
enamelmandibular bone
Durrington Walls Welland Bank Quarry Poulton Chapel House Farm
Sketch map created by Jane Evans available at: http://www.bgs.ac.uk/nigl/SBA_Methodology.htm
DW cattle higher than 0.710
0.707
0.708
0.709
0.71
0.711
0.712
0.713
0.714
0.715
0.716
87Sr
/86Sr
87Sr/86Sr values of cattle teeth from Durrington Walls
enameldentine
DW12DW4DW2DW10DW11DW3DW6DW7DW8DW1DW5DW9 pilot
0.707
0.708
0.709
0.71
0.711
0.712
0.713
0.714
0.715
0.716
87Sr
/86Sr
87Sr/86Sr values of cattle teeth from Durrington Walls
enameldentine
DW12DW4DW2DW10DW11DW3DW6DW7DW8DW1DW5DW9 pilot
0.707
0.708
0.709
0.71
0.711
0.712
0.713
0.714
0.715
0.716
87Sr
/86Sr
87Sr/86Sr values of cattle teeth from Durrington Walls
enameldentine
DW12DW4DW2DW10DW11DW3DW6DW7DW8DW1DW5DW9 pilot
Sketch map created by Jane Evans available at: http://www.bgs.ac.uk/nigl/SBA_Methodology.htm
0.707
0.708
0.709
0.71
0.711
0.712
0.713
0.714
0.715
0.716
87Sr
/86Sr
87Sr/86Sr values of cattle teeth from Durrington Walls
enameldentine
DW12DW4DW2DW10DW11DW3DW6DW7DW8DW1DW5DW9 pilot
Sketch map created by Jane Evans available at: http://www.bgs.ac.uk/nigl/SBA_Methodology.htm
Subsample: approx 0.7095 to less than 0.711
0.707
0.708
0.709
0.71
0.711
0.712
0.713
0.714
0.715
0.716
87Sr
/86Sr
87Sr/86Sr values of cattle teeth from Durrington Walls
enameldentine
DW12DW4DW2DW10DW11DW3DW6DW7DW8DW1DW5DW9 pilot
Sketch map created by Jane Evans available at: http://www.bgs.ac.uk/nigl/SBA_Methodology.htm
0.707
0.708
0.709
0.71
0.711
0.712
0.713
0.714
0.715
0.716
87Sr
/86Sr
87Sr/86Sr values of cattle teeth from Durrington Walls
enameldentine
DW12DW4DW2DW10DW11DW3DW6DW7DW8DW1DW5DW9 pilot
Sketch map created by Jane Evans available at: http://www.bgs.ac.uk/nigl/SBA_Methodology.htm
0.707
0.708
0.709
0.71
0.711
0.712
0.713
0.714
0.715
0.716
87Sr
/86Sr
87Sr/86Sr values of cattle teeth from Durrington Walls
enameldentine
DW12DW4DW2DW10DW11DW3DW6DW7DW8DW1DW5DW9 pilot
Conclusions
• Some cattle originated in the immediate vicinity of DW.
• However, the majority could not have spent the time between 10months-2 years on chalkland.
• A variety of origins can be suggested for these cattle.• From zooarchaeological investigation it is evident that
cattle were brought to the site alive.• Finally, the Sr evidence suggests that long distance
contacts, and movement of people and animals was undertaken in Late Neolithic Britain.
Whats next?
• The research will continue as part of the AHRC funded Feeding Stonehenge Project in 2010.
• More analysis of cattle teeth from Durrington Walls will be undertaken.
• And other important Late Neolithic sites will also be investigated to find out whether this is a phenomena unique to Durrington Walls.
AcknowledgementsThanks to Mike Emery and Kevin Cootes (The Poulton Research Project), Tom Lane and Francis Pryor (Welland Bank Quarry) for permission to sample teeth for the pilot study. My PhD research has been funded by a NERC studentship. The Stonehenge Riverside Project is funded by the AHRC. Strontium isotope analysis was made possible by a grant from the NIGL steering committee.
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