Isotopic Indications of Late Pleistocene and Holocene Paleoenvironmental Changes at Boodie Cave Archaeological Site, Barrow Island, Western Australia

Abstract

This paper presents the first application of mammal tooth enamel carbonate stable isotope analysis for the purpose of investigating late Pleistocene–early Holocene environmental change in an Australian archaeological context. Stable carbon (δ13C) and oxygen (δ18O) isotope ratios were analyzed from archaeological and modern spectacled hare wallaby (Lagorchestes conspicillatus) and hill kangaroo (Osphranter robustus) tooth enamel carbonates from Boodie Cave on Barrow Island in Western Australia. δ18O results track the dynamic paleoecological history at Boodie Cave including a clear shift towards increasing aridity preceding the onset of the Last Glacial Maximum and a period of increased humidity in the early to mid-Holocene. Enamel δ13C reflects divergent species feeding ecology and may imply a long-term shift toward increasing diversity in vegetation structure. This study contributes new data to the carbonate-isotope record for Australian fauna and demonstrates the significant potential of stable isotope based ecological investigations for tracking paleoenvironment change to inter-strata resolution.

Morphometric classification of kangaroo bones reveals paleoecological change in northwest Australia during the terminal Pleistocene

“…14,000 cal BP, bringing a period of warm, humid conditions following the intense aridity of the LGM 71 . Isotopic and micromorphological evidence from Boodie Cave support the regional pattern for wetter local conditions during the terminal Pleistocene and early Holocene than are seen today 72 , 73 . Anthracological examination of hearth fuels at Boodie Cave also indicates a localized increase in Acacia -dominated vegetation cover in association with these warm and humid conditions 33 .…”

A pilot study into the geochronological and geomorphic context for the archaeology of Barrow Island, Western Australia

“…Stalagmite records from Ledge Cave on Barrow Island, obtained as part of the BIAP reveal greater IASM variability and wetter conditions prior to human arrival on the island within Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 4 (82-71 ka), followed by a significant drying phase and cessation of growth of the Ledge Cave stalagmite starting at approximately 60 ka (MIS-3;Conningham, 2017). Isotopic studies of mammal teeth from Boodie Cave further show a shift towards increasing aridity in the period 36.6-46.2 ka, preceding the onset of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and a period of increased humidity in the early to mid-Holocene (7.2-6.8 ka BP; Skippington et al, 2021).…”

Special Issue “Applications of Stable Isotope Analysis”

“…This Special Issue aims to provide an updated view and highlight the advances in the application of stable isotope analysis (SIA) in the different fields of chemistry. It includes five research articles and two review papers dealing with the use of this technique in geochemical [ 2 , 3 ], archaeological [ 4 , 5 , 6 ], environmental [ 7 ], and food [ 4 , 8 ] studies.…”

“…SIA in the archaeological field has evolved as a result of the close relationship of this discipline with geology and geochemistry. In this regard, Baldoni et al [ 4 ], Skippington et al [ 5 ] and Connolly et al [ 6 ] applied these tools in archaeology-related studies. Baldoni et al [ 4 ] analysed N and C isotopes to investigate the relationship between dietary habits and mortality patterns in the Roman Imperial and Medieval population of 18 archaeological sites from Italy.…”

“…The research developed by Skippington et al [ 5 ] demonstrates that the SIA of tooth enamel from macropods (spectacled hare wallaby and hill kangaroo) can be used with confidence to trace paleoenvironmental changes in Australian archaeological contexts at inter-strata resolution. To this end, stable carbon (δ 13 C) and oxygen (δ 18 O) isotope ratios of dental carbonates from both archaeological and modern samples from Boodie Cave (Barrow Island) were analysed.…”