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A Comparative Stable Isotope Analysis of Two Archaeological Sites in Broward County

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Date Issued:
2015
Summary:
Understanding people through the foods eaten has proven a formidable method to uncover subsistence patterns and infer lifestyle of the earliest inhabitants of an area. With previously examined paleodiet from East Okeechobee Area, Tatham Mound, and Fort Center, particular areas of Florida’s prehistory have begun to resurrect thorough the eye of the scientist. When we understand the foods consumed, we also corroborate that with the environment where the individual resided. Reconstructing foods eaten not only helps researchers understand the ecology of the habitat, but also the social structure of the group the person belonged to. The conglomeration of these factors enables investigators to understand the people, culture, and environment of a region when photographs and written records are unavailable and unaccountable. Using the stable isotopes of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen, a molecular analysis of the collagen and apatite of bones and tooth enamel signifies the quantities and qualities of proteins and carbohydrates eaten by an individual. This method will be utilized and highlighted in the paleodietary analysis of two sites from the inland zone of southeastern Florida. Two South Florida archaeological sites were discovered housing human remains in the early 1970s. Markham Park and Lauderhill Mound are the two sites used for this analysis. Because of the pottery sherds associated in chronological stratigraphic layers, the date range for each site has been shown to differ by about 500 years. This is significant to assess if the diet compares or contrasts throughout the different time periods.
Title: A Comparative Stable Isotope Analysis of Two Archaeological Sites in Broward County.
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Name(s): Thomas, Alexandra N.
Graduate College
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Poster
Date Created: 2015
Date Issued: 2015
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 1 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: Understanding people through the foods eaten has proven a formidable method to uncover subsistence patterns and infer lifestyle of the earliest inhabitants of an area. With previously examined paleodiet from East Okeechobee Area, Tatham Mound, and Fort Center, particular areas of Florida’s prehistory have begun to resurrect thorough the eye of the scientist. When we understand the foods consumed, we also corroborate that with the environment where the individual resided. Reconstructing foods eaten not only helps researchers understand the ecology of the habitat, but also the social structure of the group the person belonged to. The conglomeration of these factors enables investigators to understand the people, culture, and environment of a region when photographs and written records are unavailable and unaccountable. Using the stable isotopes of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen, a molecular analysis of the collagen and apatite of bones and tooth enamel signifies the quantities and qualities of proteins and carbohydrates eaten by an individual. This method will be utilized and highlighted in the paleodietary analysis of two sites from the inland zone of southeastern Florida. Two South Florida archaeological sites were discovered housing human remains in the early 1970s. Markham Park and Lauderhill Mound are the two sites used for this analysis. Because of the pottery sherds associated in chronological stratigraphic layers, the date range for each site has been shown to differ by about 500 years. This is significant to assess if the diet compares or contrasts throughout the different time periods.
Identifier: FA00005916 (IID)
Collection: FAU Student Research Digital Collection
Note(s): The Sixth Annual Graduate Research Day was organized by Florida Atlantic University’s Graduate Student Association. Graduate students from FAU Colleges present abstracts of original research and posters in a competition for monetary prizes, awards, and recognition.
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Sublocation: Digital Library
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005916
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Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.