Temporal and spatial variability of bone collagen stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratios of Norwegian reindeer

Abstract

Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) bones from three Norwegian modern wild reindeer populations (Setesdal Ryfylke, Hardangervidda and Rondane) were used to investigate variations in δ13C and δ15N between, and within, populations. Each of these reindeer populations lives in different climatic and environmental conditions, thus vegetation and climatic conditions could be linked to their stable isotopic signature. Reindeer bones from several archaeological sites on Hardangervidda representing three chronological ranges (275–350 CE, 11th, and 13th century CE) were then analysed for their stable isotopic composition. No statistically significant differences were found within the populations, but the stable isotopic values differed between populations. Subsequently, these stable isotopic values were used to infer modern climatic conditions to sub-fossil palaeoenvironmental conditions on Hardangervidda.