Conference Agenda

Previously published bulk collagen δ¹⁵N measurements of archaeological eastern Mediterranean sea turtles revealed a striking dietary contrast. Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) from the Iron Age site of Kinet Höyük (~2700 BP) exhibited isotopic values consistent with modern herbivorous counterparts, while Bronze Age green turtles from Tell Fadous (~4700 BP) showed signatures indicative of a higher trophic level. To investigate this discrepancy, we conducted δ¹⁵N compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) on 12 archaeological specimens, comparing dietary patterns between sites and against the omnivorous loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta). Trophic position calculations suggest that the Bronze Age green turtles fed at a higher trophic level, potentially incorporating more animal matter into their diet. To assess possible environmental drivers, we examined published Mediterranean sea surface temperature (SST) reconstructions, which indicate cooler conditions during the Early Bronze Age compared to the Iron Age. These lower SSTs may have necessitated a dietary shift toward increased animal protein consumption. Our findings suggest that Bronze Age green turtles displayed dietary flexibility, likely as an adaptive response to climate fluctuations.

The South American Gran Chaco, a vast region spanning over one million km², currently lacks region-specific paleoclimatic models. To evaluate the validity of models extrapolated from neighboring regions, we conducted zooarchaeological studies on environmentally sensitive species. This work analyzes stable carbon (δ13C) and oxygen (δ18O) isotope variations in archaeological and modern shells of Pomacea canaliculata. Whole-shell analyses provide estimates of annual climatic conditions, while intra-shell analyses reveal seasonal variations, establishing the first isotopic baseline for this species in the region. These studies have refined our understanding of climatic periods and complemented morphogeometric analyses of Lepidosiren paradoxa and Hoplosternum littorale, offering an independent assessment of seasonality and environmental conditions at archaeological sites. The integration of isotopic and zooarchaeological data has enabled evaluation of the proposed model's reliability. Furthermore, isotopic analyses have revealed humidity and temperature fluctuations at various temporal scales, enhancing our understanding of resource seasonality stability and its relationship with long-term climate variability. This approach has also facilitated assessment of extraordinary events such as Mega ENSO on local ecology and human occupation patterns. Our study demonstrates the value of combining multiple lines of evidence in paleoclimatic and archaeological investigations, introducing new methodologies for reconstructing the Gran Chaco's climatic and environmental history.

Domesticated species have travelled with humans throughout the world and are integrally woven into the development of culture. Māori dogs (kurī) arrived in Aotearoa New Zealand with the first Polynesian voyagers in around 1300AD, and their skins were used to create prestigious cloaks. The dogs were also highly valued as food, and pets. However, the dogs disappeared after European arrival in around 1800 AD. We provide a glimpse into kurī ecology, and its relationships with people, by sampling dog hair from cloaks made during the early stages of European settlement, that are now held in museum collections. We first constructed isotopic niches for kuri at a range of time-scales and locations, by sampling bones from kuri (and their likely prey) from 14^th and 15^th C South Island sites, and then from hair from dog-skin cloaks. We have used carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes to examine kuri diet changes that could be indicative of environmental change, and decoupled socioecological relationships. Isotopic results from South Island sites indicate a wide range of dietary items eaten by kurī, that are closely tied to the economy of these settlements and diet of their human owners. Doghair sampled from cloaks indicate these dogs also had a varied diet, and differ even within the same cloak, thus allowing us to estimate the number of dogs required to make a cloak. We compare our findings with historic accounts of kuri and their diet from early explorers, and discuss the results in relation to changing bio-economics and cultural worldviews. Finally, we also highlight some sampling challenges. In particular we highlight the importance of community involvement in these projects, and the need to return data to communities as part of our cultural responsibility, in ways that grow community connection to both science and the artefacts (taonga) themselves.