The use of stable carbon isotopes in palaeoenvironmental studies in archaeology: the example of Arslantepe (Malatya, Eastern Anatolia) from 5300 to 3950 years BP

Stable carbon isotope analysis reveals that variations in plant use at Arslantepe Mound (Eastern Anatolia) between 5300 and 3950 years BP were likely influenced by environmental changes rather than solely cultural choices. The study analyzed charred and fresh wood samples, including deciduous Quercus and Juniperus, as well as caryopsis like Triticum dicoccon and Hordeum vulgare, to assess drought stress proxies (δ13C values). By comparing archaeological plant remains with modern samples from the same region, researchers found that environmental shifts—such as drought conditions—correlated with changes in plant selection over time. This approach offers a novel method to distinguish between human cultural adaptations and natural environmental variations, providing deeper insights into past human-plant interactions at UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Baneschi, Ilaria. (2012). The use of stable carbon isotopes in palaeoenvironmental studies in archaeology: the example of Arslantepe (Malatya, Eastern Anatolia) from 5300 to 3950 years BP. Rendiconti Online Della Società Geologica Italiana, (Vol. 18), 8–11. https://doi.org/10.3301/rol.2011.58