Stable Isotope Variation in East and Southeast Asian Marine Ecosystems and its Relevance for Archaeological Analysis

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper delves into the utilisation of stable isotope analysis as a tool for understanding ancient human adaptations to diverse marine environments, with a specific geographical focus on Southeast Asia and the Pacific. It analyzes stable isotope data from modern fish bones and tooth enamel, focusing on δ13C, δ15N, and δ18O values. The data confirm the reliability of δ13C as a proxy for marine consumption in archaeological contexts and emphasises the potential of combining δ13C and δ15N measurements to reconstruct marine food consumption and trophic level. This, in turn, helps us gain insights into ancient marine consumption and ecosystems in Southeast Asia. While distinctions between marine niches are not clear, δ15N shows potential for distinguishing feeding behaviours among fish species. The data also suggests geographical and ecological variations in stable isotope values, highlighting the need for locally-based baseline datasets in archaeological studies of marine subsistence strategies.