Skip to main content

ETHNOS_APP

Home • Search • Journals • List 0

Best practices for calibrating and reporting stable isotope measurements in archaeology

Bibliographic Data

ID13097472
AuthorsP Szpak (0000-0002-1364-6834, Trent University, corresponding author), Jessica Z Metcalfe (0000-0001-9450-512X, University of British Columbia), Rebecca Macdonald (0009-0005-7913-1795, University of British Columbia)
Year2017
Volume13
Pages609-616
Publication date2017-05-15
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Archaeological Science Reports (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2352-409X • E-ISSN: 2352-4103
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.jasrep.2017.05.007
OpenAlexW2614388738
LanguageEN
Citations received143
References cited25

Archaeology · Calibration · Data science · Geodesy · Geography · Pace · Statistics · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Computer Science · Environmental Science · Isotope Analysis in Ecology · Mathematics · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology · Geology

  • Comparing childhood and adulthood diets in a Viking Age population from the Lejasbitēni cemetery, Latvia

    Open Access•Elīna Pētersone-Gordina, Guntis Gerhards et al.•Estonian Journal of Archaeology•2026

  • Archaeological and Biogeochemical Investigation of Past Human Relationships With Now‐Endangered Fish Species

    Open Access•Suzanne Needs‐howarth, Alicia L Hawkins et al.•International Journal of…•2026

  • Pacific walrus diet across 4000 years of changing sea ice conditions

    Open Access•Casey T Clark, Lara Horstmann et al.•Quaternary Research•2022

  • Variation in Human Bone Collagen Turnover Among Skeletal Elements

    Open Access•Olivia Hall, Shari L Forbe et al.•American Journal of Biological…•2026

  • Stable isotope evidence for pre-colonial maize agriculture and animal management in the Bolivian Amazon

    Open Access•Tiago Hermenegildo, Heiko Prümers et al.•Nature Human Behaviour•2024

  • Oxygen isotopes in bioarchaeology

    Open Access•Sarah Pederzani, K Britton•Earth-Science Reviews•2019

  • New Isotopic Evidence of Increased Exploitation of C 3 Plant Resources by Complex Hunter–Gatherers in the Early to Middle Neolithic Guangxi, South China

    Open Access•Bing Yi, Yan Wu et al.•International Journal of…•2026

  • “Cropping the Margins”

    Open Access•Charlotte Diffey, Geoff Emberling et al.•Iraq•2023

  • Sulfur isotope analysis of collagen

    Open Access•Jessica Z Metcalfe, Lauryn E Eady-Sitar et al.•Quaternary Environments and Humans•2024

  • Differences in the isotopic composition of individual grains and aggregated seed samples affect interpretation of ancient plant cultivation practices

    Open Access•Nick James, Nathaniel James et al.•Frontiers in Environmental…•2025

  • Rice stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values as potential indicators of watering and manuring regimes

    Open Access•Rubi Wu, Eric J Belfield et al.•Frontiers in Environmental…•2025

  • The effects of charring on morphology and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values of common and foxtail millet grains

    Open Access•Andrés Teira-Brión, Elizabeth Stroud et al.•Frontiers in Environmental…•2024

  • Into thin air

    Open Access•Melissa M Ritchey, Li Tang et al.•Frontiers in Environmental…•2024

  • Recommendations for stable isotope analysis of charred archaeological crop remains

    Open Access•Amy K Styring, Petra Vaiglova et al.•Frontiers in Environmental…•2024

  • Isotopic analysis of modern sorghum and finger millet from different altitudes in Ethiopia

    Open Access•Alessandra Varalli, Alemseged Beldados et al.•Frontiers in Environmental…•2024

  • Isotope analysis in archaeology grand challenge

    Open Access•Patrick Roberts•Frontiers in Environmental…•2022

  • Exploring the use of Wild Cereals at Takarkori (Central Sahara, Southwestern Libya) Through Stable Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope Analysis of Prehistoric Desiccated Seeds

    Sara Bernardini, Silvia Soncin et al.•Environmental Archaeology•2025

  • Patterns of Resource Use and Isotopic Niche Overlap Among Guanaco ( Lama guanicoe ), Pampas Deer ( Ozotoceros bezoarticus ) and Marsh Deer ( Blastocerus dichotomus ) in the Pampas. Ecological, Paleoenvironmental and Archaeological Implications

    D Loponte, María José Corriale•Environmental Archaeology•2020

  • Health, diet, and mortuary practices in the countryside of Byzantine and post‐Byzantine Boeotia

    Open Access•P Tritsaroli, L Mion et al.•International Journal of…•2022

  • První výsledky rekonstrukce stravy jedinců pohřbených u hřbitovního karneru Všech svatých v Kutné Hoře – Sedlci

    Open Access•Sylva Kaupová, Jan Frolík et al.•Archeologické rozhledy•2024

  • Early commensal interaction between humans and hares in Neolithic northern China

    Open Access•P Sheng, Yaowu Hu et al.•Antiquity•2020

  • Isotopic Evidence for Long-Distance Connections of the AD Thirteenth-Century Promontory Caves Occupants

    Open Access•Jessica Z Metcalfe, John W Ives et al.•American Antiquity•2021

  • The signal and the noise

    Open Access•T C O''Connell•Journal of Archaeological Science•2025

  • “Here we go again”

    Open Access•Sahra Talamo, Helen Fewla et al.•STAR Science & Technology of…•2021

  • Measuring the impact of parchment production on skin collagen stable isotope (δ 13 C and δ 15 N) values

    Open Access•Sean Paul Doherty, M M Alexander et al.•STAR Science & Technology of…•2021

  • To pretreat, or not to pretreat, that is the question. The value of pretreatment protocols in the stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of archaeobotanical cereal grains from Croatia and Serbia

    Open Access•Kelly Reed, Michael Wallace•STAR Science & Technology of…•2024

  • Nascent agricultural extensification and distinct household cultivation strategies supported first population centers in Neolithic southeastern Europe

    Open Access•Paul R Duffy, Kelly Reed et al.•Frontiers in Environmental…•2026

  • From Local Farms to Supermarket Foods

    Open Access•Felipe Otero, Luciano Lautaro Loupias et al.•American Journal of Human Biology•2025

  • Archaeobotanical evidence reveals the nature of cereal agriculture at 8th- and 9th-century ad Sedgeford, East Anglia, UK

    Open Access•Hannah Caroe, Amy Bogaard et al.•Vegetation History and…•2026

  • Agropastoral investment in plant cultivation at the Bronze Age site of Chap, Kyrgyzstan

    Open Access•Melissa M Ritchey, Xinyi Liu et al.•Journal of Archaeological Science•2026

  • Pohřebiště starší doby bronzové v Plotištích nad Labem a jejich význam v rámci osídlení regionu

    Open Access•Michaela Langová, Eva Schimerová et al.•Památky archeologické•2025

  • Local isotopic ecologies matter in the Pacific

    Open Access•Kathryn King, Kathryn A King et al.•Journal of Pacific Archaeology•2026

  • Traveling monastic paths

    Open Access•Elise Alonzi, Niamh Daly et al.•Journal of Anthropological…•2019

  • Past maize consumption correlates with population change in Central Western Argentina

    Open Access•Eva A Peralta, José Manuel López et al.•Journal of Anthropological…•2022

  • The grandeur of death - Monuments, societies, and diets in middle Neolithic Paris Basin

    Open Access•Christina Cheung, Estelle Herrscher et al.•Journal of Anthropological…•2021

  • Defying Dietary Homogeneity

    Open Access•Luciano Lautaro Loupias, Felipe Otero et al.•American Journal of Human Biology•2026

  • Isotopic reconstruction of the early life experience of individuals from the early Bronze age Vliněves site (Czech Republic)

    Open Access•Sylva Kaupová, Petr Limburský et al.•Journal of Archaeological Science…•2023

  • Continuation of hunter-gatherer weaning practices in middle/late Neolithic Latvia

    Open Access•Anna Batraga, Gunita Zariņa et al.•Journal of Archaeological Science…•2025

  • The bottom line

    Open Access•Dylan R Smith, Erin K Martin et al.•Journal of Archaeological Science…•2023

  • Persistence of Roman economic structures reflected in the dietary habits of late antique Tuscany (central Italy, 3rd–7th centuries CE)

    Open Access•Giulia Riccomi, Giorgia Tulumello et al.•Journal of Archaeological Science…•2025

  • Mobile animal management in the Mediterranean

    Open Access•Katherine G Bishop, Sandra Garvie‐lok et al.•Journal of Archaeological Science…•2020

  • Isotopic evidence for animal management strategies at Archaic and Classical period Argilos, Greece

    Open Access•Rudolph Alagich, Angelos Gkotsinas et al.•Journal of Archaeological Science…•2022

  • Echoes from the past

    Open Access•F De Angelis, Serena Vaccaro et al.•Journal of Archaeological Science…•2024

  • Life histories from the Southside Cemetery, St. John's, Newfoundland

    Open Access•Tricia Jessica Anne Munkittrick, T L Varney et al.•Journal of Archaeological Science…•2019

  • A chronology for the earliest human burials at Cuchipuy, central Chile

    Open Access•Lorena Becerra-Valdivia, Andrea Eyquem et al.•Journal of Archaeological Science…•2021

  • The effect of water availability on the carbon and nitrogen isotope composition of a C4 plant (pearl millet, Pennisetum glaucum)

    Open Access•Lily H Sanborn, Rachel Reid et al.•Journal of Archaeological Science…•2021

  • Seasonality or short-term mobility among trophy head victims and villagers

    Open Access•Beth K Scaffidi, T A Tung et al.•Journal of Archaeological Science…•2021

  • The medieval dietary transition in the ecclesiastical centre of Stará Boleslav (9th-15th centuries AD, Czechia)

    Open Access•Sylva Kaupová, Petra Stránská et al.•Journal of Archaeological Science…•2025

  • Diversity in Labrador Inuit sled dog diets

    Open Access•Alison J T Harris, Deirdre A Elliott et al.•Journal of Archaeological Science…•2020

  • The effect of animal herding practices on the diversity of human stable isotope values in North Central Asia

    Open Access•Elina Ananyevskaya, Gaziz Akhatov et al.•Journal of Archaeological Science…•2020

  • Thule dog diets in the Hudson Bay reflect human dietary variability

    Open Access•Brooke Driscoll, Brian T Driscoll et al.•Journal of Archaeological Science…•2025

  • Diet, mobility, and life histories during the early medieval period at San Vito al Tagliamento, Italy

    Open Access•Giacomo Capuzzo, Elena Fiorin et al.•Journal of Archaeological Science…•2025

  • Using bone bioapatite yield for quality control in stable isotope analysis applications

    Open Access•Lesley A Chesson, Melanie M Beasley et al.•Journal of Archaeological Science…•2020

  • Dining together

    Open Access•Yu Itahashi, Akira Tsuneki et al.•Journal of Archaeological Science…•2017

  • Prehispanic Maya diet and mobility at Nakum, Guatemala

    Open Access•A J Rand, Varinia Matute et al.•Journal of Archaeological Science…•2020

  • Health and well-being in Medieval Estremoz, Portugal

    Open Access•Ana Curto, Navarrete et al.•Journal of Archaeological Science…•2025

  • Pastoral provisioning of Uyghur elites in an urban setting

    Open Access•Lea Kohlhage, C A Makarewicz•Archaeological Research in Asia•2024

  • Further insight into Neolithic agricultural management at Kouphovouno, southern Greece

    Open Access•Petra Vaiglova, Armelle Gardeisen et al.•Archaeological and Anthropological…•2020

  • Patterns of camelid management in Wari Empire reconstructed using multiple stable isotope analysis

    Open Access•W Tomczyk, Miłosz Giersz et al.•Archaeological and Anthropological…•2019

  • Mobility of populations in the transition from Muslim world to Portuguese Kingdom in the Algarve, South Portugal, 11th-13th centuries

    Open Access•Alvaro Felipe Ortega-González, Bastien Llamas et al.•Archaeological and Anthropological…•2025

  • The first biomolecular evidence of leopards (Panthera pardus, Linnaeus, 1758) from the Roman era reveals the participation of African big cats in provincial amphitheatres

    Open Access•Vuković, Danijela Popović et al.•Archaeological and Anthropological…•2025

  • Recent applications of isotope analysis to forensic anthropology

    Open Access•Eric J Bartelink, Lesley A Chesson•Forensic Sciences Research•2019

  • Isotopic Insights into Livestock Production in Roman Italy

    Open Access•Angela Trentacoste, Michael Mackinnon et al.•Environmental Archaeology•2023

  • First Direct Evidence of Agrarian Practices in the Alava Plateau (Northern Iberia) During the Middle Ages Through Carbon and Nitrogen Stable Isotope Analyses of Charred Seeds

    Maite I García-Collado, Juan Antonio Quirós Castillo et al.•Environmental Archaeology•2022

  • Bioarchaeological Characteristics of the Wheat ( Triticum aestivum ) Consumed at Different Parts of the Early Medieval Settlement Agglomeration of Mikulčice-Kopčany (9th–10th Century AD, Czech Republic)

    Michaela Látková, Roman Skála et al.•Environmental Archaeology•2023

  • War Horses and Equine Herd Feeding Management at the End of the Third Century BC

    Antigone Uzunidis, L Mion et al.•Environmental Archaeology•2023

  • An Integrated isotopic study of Early Intermediate Period camelid husbandry in the Santa Valley, Perú

    P Szpak, Jean-François Millaire et al.•Environmental Archaeology•2019

  • Exploring Diversity in Neolithic Agropastoral Management in Mainland Greece Using Stable Isotope Analysis

    Petra Vaiglova, John Coleman et al.•Environmental Archaeology•2021

  • Agricultural Management and Culinary Culture in the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age Aegean

    A Livarda, Georgia Kotzamani et al.•Environmental Archaeology•2025

  • Late Bronze – Early Iron Age Agro-systems in Northern Greece

    Open Access•Charlotte Diffey, Amy K Styring et al.•Environmental Archaeology•2025

  • Feeding Shimao

    P Sheng, Xue Shang et al.•Environmental Archaeology•2021

  • Exploring Dietary Differentiation in the Roman Province of Macedonia

    Chryssa Vergidou, Georgia Karamitrou-Mentessidi et al.•Environmental Archaeology•2023

  • Tales unraveled through threads

    Open Access•António Carrapiço, Ana Manhita et al.•Journal of Cultural Heritage•2024

  • Exploring Railroad Impacts on Meat Trade

    Open Access•J Ryan Kennedy, Eric Guiry et al.•International Journal of…•2022

  • Interpreting Past Human Diets Using Stable Isotope Mixing Models—Best Practices for Data Acquisition

    Open Access•Christina Cheung, P Szpak•Journal of Archaeological Method…•2021

  • Interpreting Past Human Diets Using Stable Isotope Mixing Models

    Open Access•Christina Cheung, P Szpak•Journal of Archaeological Method…•2020

  • Do Uncharred Plants Preserve Original Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope Compositions

    Open Access•Jessica Z Metcalfe, Jim I Mead•Journal of Archaeological Method…•2018

  • Early Childhood in Precolonial South America

    Open Access•Marina Di Giusto, Estelle Herrscher et al.•International Journal of…•2024

  • Liburnian lunches

    Open Access•J Marla Toyne, Martina Čelhar et al.•International Journal of…•2021

  • Comparing the performance of demineralization agents (HCl and Edta) for stable isotope analysis of bone collagen with implications for quality control criteria and collagen yield

    Open Access•Tess Wilson, P Szpak•International Journal of…•2023

  • Maya Sequential Burials and Subsistence Change at the Prehispanic Site of Caledonia, Cayo District, Belize

    Open Access•A J Rand, Jan Romaniszyn et al.•International Journal of…•2025

  • Mesolithic human remains at Cueva de la Cocina

    Open Access•B Mcclure, Ángela Pérez-Fernández et al.•Quaternary International•2023

  • Mobility and origin of camels in the Roman Empire through serial stable carbon and oxygen isotope variations in tooth enamel

    Open Access•Sophie G Habinger, Bea De Cupere et al.•Quaternary International•2020

  • Reconstruction of diachronic changes in human fishing activity and marine ecosystems from carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of archaeological fish remains

    Open Access•T Tsutaya, Tomonari Takahashi et al.•Quaternary International•2022

  • Best practices for selecting samples, analyzing data, and publishing results in isotope archaeology

    Open Access•Petra Vaiglova, Nicole A Lazar et al.•Quaternary International•2023

  • Examining pre-Hispanic human and animal isotopic variation at Kuelap in the eastern montane of Peru

    Open Access•J Marla Toyne, Samantha Michell et al.•Quaternary International•2020

  • New crop stable isotope evidence reveals the impact of the 3.2 ka rapid climate event on arable agricultural production at late Bronze Age – Iron Age Hattuşa, Central Anatolia

    Open Access•Charlotte Diffey, Reinder Neef et al.•The Holocene•2025

  • Foodways on the Han dynasty’s western frontier

    Open Access•P Sheng, Michael Storozum et al.•The Holocene•2020

  • Dietary change of North Patagonian guanacos

    Open Access•A F Gil, C Otaola et al.•The Holocene•2024

  • Crop water status from plant stable carbon isotope values

    Open Access•Penelope Jones, T C O''Connell et al.•The Holocene•2021

  • A comparison of nitrogen isotope compositions of charred and desiccated botanical remains from northern Peru

    Open Access•P Szpak, Katherine L Chiou•Vegetation History and…•2019

  • Nitrogen isotope values of Pennisetum glaucum (pearl millet) grains

    Open Access•Amy K Styring, Amadou Makhtar Diop et al.•Vegetation History and…•2019

  • Carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur stable isotopic reconstruction of human diet in a mountainous woodland village in Sendaiji in premodern Japan

    Open Access•T Tsutaya, Minoru Yoneda et al.•Anthropological Science•2019

  • A Land of Plenty? Colonial Diet in Rural New Zealand

    Open Access•C L King, Peter Petchey et al.•Historical Archaeology•2021

  • Use of thermogravimetric analysis to estimate collagen and hydroxyapatite contents in archaeological bone

    Open Access•Ricky Durga, Natalia Jiménez et al.•Journal of Archaeological Science•2022

  • Statistical modelling in archaeology

    Open Access•Enrico R Crema•Journal of Archaeological Science•2025

  • Geographic and seasonal variation in δ13C values of C3 plant arabidopsis

    Open Access•Catherine G Cooper, Martha D Cooper et al.•Journal of Archaeological Science•2022

  • Direct evidence for agricultural intensification during the first two millennia AD in northeast Burkina Faso

    Open Access•Amy K Styring, Alexa Höhn et al.•Journal of Archaeological Science•2019

  • How can we improve statistical training in archaeological science

    Open Access•Petra Vaiglova•Journal of Archaeological Science•2025

  • The historical ecology of subsistence and early commercial fisheries in mangrove systems in Brazil

    Open Access•Thiago Fossile, Krista Michelle Mcgrath et al.•Journal of Archaeological Science•2024

  • Quantifying Inter-Laboratory Variability in Stable Isotope Analysis of Ancient Skeletal Remains

    Open Access•W J Pestle, Brooke E Crowley et al.•PLoS ONE•2014

  • Reporting of stable hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen isotopic abundances (Technical Report)

    Tyler B Coplen•Pure and Applied Chemistry•1994

  • Guidelines and recommended terms for expression of stable‐isotope‐ratio and gas‐ratio measurement results

    Open Access•Tyler B Coplen•Rapid Communications in Mass…•2011

  • New Guidelines for δ 13 C Measurements

    Tyler B Coplen, Willi A Brand et al.•Analytical Chemistry•2006

  • Postmortem preservation and alteration of in vivo bone collagen isotope ratios in relation to palaeodietary reconstruction

    Open Access•Michael J Deniro•Nature•1985

  • Comparison of two methods of extracting bone collagen for stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis

    Open Access•Judith Sealy, Malia Johnson et al.•Journal of Archaeological Science•2014

  • Evaluating bone collagen extraction methods for stable isotope analysis in dietary studies

    Open Access•Marie Louise S Jørkov, Jan Heinemeier et al.•Journal of Archaeological Science•2007

  • Bone Collagen Quality Indicators for Palaeodietary and Radiocarbon Measurements

    Open Access•G J VAN KLINKEN•Journal of Archaeological Science•1999

  • Preparation and characterization of bone and tooth collagen for isotopic analysis

    Open Access•H Ambrose, Stanley H Ambrose•Journal of Archaeological Science•1990

Unique citing works143
Citations per year15,89
Citation span2017 - 2026 (10)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedYes
Citation typesNeutral: 138
Ethnos_APP • Open Source Project • MIT License • Frontend v2.0.0 • Privacy and Cookies • API Documentation: api.ethnos.app/docs • API Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17049435 • Frontend Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17050053 • cruz.rio.br • Expectantes Misericordiae