Stable isotope analysis of archaeological oak charcoal from eastern Anatolia as a marker of mid‐Holocene climate change

A comparison of stable carbon isotopes (Δ13C) between modern and archaeological oak charcoals from Arslantepe Mound, Turkey, reveals that the mid-Holocene climate was less arid than today. The study identifies three distinct climatic phases spanning 3350–2000 BC: an initial period of instability (ca. 3200–2900 BC), followed by relative stability until ca. 2350 BC, and a final increase in aridity. This finding contrasts with the current semi-arid conditions, suggesting that human-induced landscape changes during this era may have interacted with natural climate variations. The research employs stable isotope analysis to distinguish climate-driven environmental shifts from those influenced by past human activities, offering insights into the complex interplay between climate and human settlement in eastern Anatolia.

Masi, A., Sadori, L., Baneschi, I., Siani, A. M., & Zanchetta, G. (2012). Stable isotope analysis of archaeological oak charcoal from eastern Anatolia as a marker of mid‐Holocene climate change. Plant Biology, 15(s1), 83–92. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1438-8677.2012.00669.x