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Radiocarbon Dating and Dietary Stable Isotope Analysis of Kwaday Dän Ts'inchí

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Michael P. Richards
Affiliation:
Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, Leipzig, Germany, D-04103 (richards@eva.mpg.de), and Department of Archaeology, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
Sheila Greer
Affiliation:
Champagne and Aishihik First Nations - Heritage, Special Projects, Box 5039 Haines Junction, Yukon, YOB 1L0, Canada
Lorna T. Corr
Affiliation:
Organic Geochemistry Unit, Biogeochemistry Research Centre, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 ITS UK
Owen Beattie
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2H4, Canada
Alexander Mackie
Affiliation:
British Columbia Archaeology Branch, PO Box 9375 Stn Prov Govt, Victoria, BC, V8W9M5Canada
Richard P. Evershed
Affiliation:
Organic Geochemistry Unit, Biogeochemistry Research Centre, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 ITSUK
Al von Finster
Affiliation:
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 100-419 Range Road, Whitehorse, Yukon YlA 3V1, Canada
John Southon
Affiliation:
Earth System Science Department, B321 Croul Hall, University of California Irvine, CA 92697-3100

Abstract

We report here on the results of AMS dating and isotopic analysis of the frozen human remains named Kwaday Dän Ts'inchí and associated materials recovered from a glacier located in Northwest British Columbia, Canada in 1999. The isotopic analysis of bone collagen (bulk and single amino acids) from the individual indicates a strongly marine diet, which was unexpected given the location of this find, more than 100 km inland eroding out of a high elevation glacier; however, bulk hair and bone cholesterol isotopic values indicate a shift in diet to include more terrestrial foods in the year before death. The radiocarbon dating is not straightforward, as there are difficulties in determining the appropriate marine correction for the human remains, and the spread of dates on the associated artifacts clearly indicates that this was not a single use site. By combining the most recent date on a robe worn by Kwaday Dän Ts'inchi with direct bone collagen dates we conclude that the individual likely dates to between cal A.D. 1670 to 1850, which is in the pre-(or early) European contact period for this region.

Résumé

Résumé

En este trabajo, presentamos los resultados de las dataciones por AMS y del análisis isotópico de los restos congelados del ser humano denominado Kwaday Dän Ts'inchí, así como, de los materiales asociados que fueron recuperados en un glaciar situado al noroeste de British Columbia, Canadá en 1999. Los análisis isotópicos del colágeno en hueso (total y de aminoácidos únicos) del individuo, indican una dieta claramente marina, lo cual era inesperado dada la localización de este hallazgo, a mas de 100 km hacia el interior erosionando de un glaciar de gran altitud, sin embargo, los valores isotópicos del pelo y el colesterol del hueso, indican un cambio en la dieta a un tipo de alimentación mas terrestre, el año anterior a su muerte. Las dataciones por radiocarbono no son directas, ya que presenta dificultades en la determinación de la corrección marina adecuada para los restos humanos, y la extensión de las dataciones en los artefactos asociados, indican que este no era un sitio de un único uso. Haciendo uso de la datación más reciente obtenida del traje utilizado por Kwaday Dän Ts'inchi y las dataciones directas del colágeno en hueso, concluimos que este individuo data de entre 1670 a 1850 cal AC, lo cual se encuentra en el periodo pre-(o temprano) de contacto Europeo para esta región.

Type
Reports
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 2007

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