Oxygen stable isotopes variation in water precipitation in Poland – anthropological applications

Aleksandra Lisowska-Gaczorek; Beata Cienkosz-Stepańczak; Krzysztof Szostek

doi:10.1515/anre-2017-0005

Authors

Aleksandra Lisowska-Gaczorek Department of Anthropology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
Beata Cienkosz-Stepańczak Department of Anthropology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
Krzysztof Szostek Department of Anthropology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1515/anre-2017-0005

Keywords:

oxygen isotopes, precipitation, isotope gradient, environmental background, Poland

Abstract

The main objective of oxygen isotope analysis is to determine the probable place of origin of an individual or the reconstruction of migration paths. The research are methodologically based on referencing oxygen isotope ratios of apatite phosphates (δ¹⁸O_p) to the range of environmental background δ¹⁸O, most frequently determined on the basis of precipitation.

The present work is a response to the need for providing background for oxygen isotope studies on skeletons excavated in Poland. Currently there no monitoring of the isotope composition of precipitation water in Poland is conducted. For this reason, based on the data generated in the Online Isotopes In Precipitation Calculator (OIPC), a database was developed, containing δ¹⁸O levels in precipitation for locations in which exploration work was carried out in the archaeological fields from Poland. In total, 279 locations were analysed. The result of the data analysis was a complete isotope composition map for Poland with four zones distinguished by δ¹⁸Ow values.

The observable differences in oxygen isotope composition of precipitation in Poland are sufficient to trace migrations of individuals and populations, although accurate only at the level of macroregions.

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