Isotopic evidence (C, N, S) for a high aquatic dietary contribution for a Pre-Dorset muskox hunter from Umingmak (Banks Island, Canada)

Abstract

The isotopic investigation (δ13C, δ15N, δ34S) of bone collagen from the human remains and coeval fauna from Umingmak (Banks Island, N.W.T., Canada) provide a unique opportunity to decipher the palaeodietary habits of some of the first inhabitants of the Arctic, almost 5000years ago. By comparison with other ancient humans from northern Canada and Greenland, the diet of the Umingmak individual included more terrestrial food items, although marine food was dominant. Based on a Bayesian model, the estimation of the contribution of terrestrial and freshwater food appeared higher when considering three isotopic tracers (C, N, S) instead of the sole C and N tracers. This illustrates the utility of having sulphur as an additional isotopic dietary tracer in arctic archaeological contexts. The palaeodietary conclusions are consistent with a subsistence strategy involving the seasonal exploitation of different resources available at different times of the year and in different areas. The higher terrestrial dietary contribution for the Umingmak human than for other Arctic archaeological populations could be due to a relatively richer terrestrial environment in Banks Island than in other areas.