University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Graduate Studies The Vault: Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2018-07-11 Bioavailable Strontium from Plants and Diagenesis of Dental Tissues at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania Tucker, Laura Lillian Tucker, L. L. (2018). Bioavailable Strontium from Plants and Diagenesis of Dental Tissues at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania (Unpublished master's thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. doi:10.11575/PRISM/32357 http://hdl.handle.net/1880/107135 master thesis University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY Bioavailable Strontium from Plants and Diagenesis of Dental Tissues at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania by Laura Lillian Tucker A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS GRADUATE PROGRAM IN ARCHAEOLOGY CALGARY, ALBERTA JULY, 2018 © Laura Lillian Tucker 2018 Abstract Stable strontium isotope analysis is used to assess the migration and mobility of past populations of people and animals. This study aimed to determine the feasibility of conducting future studies using this method at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania by determining the variability in biologically-available strontium (87Sr/86Sr) throughout the region from areas with metamorphic and volcanic bedrock, as well as recent unconsolidated lacustrine sediments. This was done by analysing modern plants collected from 33 different localities. As well, the degree to which archaeological animal teeth from Juma’s Korongo, a ~1- million-year-old site at Olduvai Gorge, have been affected by diagenetic alteration was assessed. To do this, the dentine and enamel of the teeth were analysed with and without pre-treatment with weak acetic acid: a protocol used for removing diagenetic strontium from dental specimens. There was no difference in 87Sr/86Sr values of volcanic (n=19) and metamorphic (n=9) sampling localities, but the lacustrine localities (n=5) had significantly higher values. 87Sr/86Sr values tended to decrease moving northeast towards the active volcano Oldoinyo Lengai, a major source of soil constituents for the area. Also, localities where trees were sampled had significantly higher 87Sr/86Sr values than those without them. Despite the homogeneous 87Sr/86Sr values described between metamorphic and volcanic localities, much higher values have been found in the northern extent of Serengeti National Park (Copeland et al., 2012), suggesting that animals who have immigrated into the area from long distances away can be identified as non-local. The animal teeth (n=7), which include zebras, crocodiles, and a hippopotamus, were all from local animals. There was a significant difference between enamel and dentine values after acid washing, suggesting that biogenic 87Sr/86Sr values are preserved in the enamel. These values were consistently higher than the modern bioavailable strontium values, possibly due to environmental differences between the past and present. The results of this study suggest that Olduvai Gorge is a suitable area for future studies using stable strontium isotope analysis, though more work is required to fully understand the inconsistencies between ancient and modern bioavailable strontium. ii Acknowledgements There are many people and organizations without whom the success of this project would not have been possible. Firstly, I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr. Julio Mercader for his constant support, feedback, and inspiration over the past couple of years, both in Calgary and in the field. In addition, his generous financial support has covered my laboratory costs, and many of the impressive costs associated with travelling. As well, I would like to thank the rest of the Stone Tools, Diet, and Sociality team: Matthew Abtosway, Tope Akeju, Robert Bird, Mariam Bundala, Siobhan Clarke, Julien Favreau, Jamie Inwood, David Isilebo, Makarius Itambu, Fergus Larter, Patrick Lee, Aloyce Mwambwiga, Robert Patalano, Maria Soto Quesada, and Lisa Tillotson. Their unconditional friendship is invaluable to me, and I cannot thank them enough for all of their support. I would also like to thank the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology at the University of Calgary and Alberta Student Aid for funding me through my degree. Specifically, my work was made possible by the Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in both 2016-2017 and 2017-2018, and by the Alberta Graduate Student Scholarship. As well, I also thank my examination committee, Dr. Gerry Oetelaar of the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, and Dr. Michael Wieser of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. I thank Dr. Neduvoto Mollel for her assistance in collecting and identifying the plant samples discussed herein. Her expertise was invaluable to me throughout the sampling procedure. I also thank the staff at the Tropical Pesticides Research Institute in Arusha, Tanzania for their further assistance in identifying my plant samples as well. In iii addition, I thank Dr. Pastory Bushozi of the University of Dar es Salaam for his help in Tanzania. As well, I thank Kerri Miller of the Isotope Science Laboratory. Her expertise regarding stable strontium isotope analysis helped me immensely, as she walked me through the ion extraction protocol, processed my samples, and helped me with the technical aspects of this thesis. As well, I thank Tracy Wyman for her help with ArcGIS and statistics. Without her assistance I would have been completely lost fumbling through the program and endless information on statistical tests. I would also like to thank Warren Fitch of the Department of Biological Sciences for his assistance in identifying the hippopotamus specimen. I would also like to thank my friends, both at the university and outside (you all know who you are!), without whom I could not have possibly come this far. Special thanks go out to my officemates Shalcey Dowkes, Tatyanna Ewald, Alyssa Haggard, Madisen Hvidberg, David Milley, Kelsey Pennanen, Christina Robinson, and Megan Sampson for their encouragement and companionship. As well, I would like to thank Catherine Butts for the great discussions we have had about our isotope work. Last, but not least, I want to thank my family and our family friends: Mom, Dad, Cathy, Nanny, Brenda, and Rob. Without their never-ending support and faith in me I would not be where I am today. I would especially like to thank my dad for proofreading my thesis and catching all of the grammatical and syntax errors I missed – thank you so much for all the time you have dedicated to helping me improve my project, Dad! iv Table of Contents Abstract…………………………………………………………………………..….…….ii Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………….….…......iii Table of Contents…………………………………………………………….……..……..v List of Tables……………………………………………………………………...………ix List of Figures and Illustrations…………………………………………………………....x List of Abbreviations Used………………………………………………...………..........xii List of Equations………………………………………………………………………...xiii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION………………………………………………...……….1 1.1 Research Problems………………………………………………….………...……1 1.2 Background………………………………………………………………………...2 1.2.1 Landscape use and ranging study shortcomings……………..………………2 1.2.2 Olduvai Gorge………………………………………………………...……..3 1.3 Organisation of this Thesis…………………………………………………………5 CHAPTER 2: HISTORY OF ISOTOPE RESEARCH IN ARCHAEOLOGY……………9 2.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………….………..9 2.2 Isotope Overview……………………………………………………………..…..10 2.3 Radioactive Isotopes………………………………………………...……………10 2.4 Stable Isotopes…………………………………………………………………….11 2.4.1 Introduction to stable isotopes………………………………..…………….11 2.4.2 Stable isotope fractionation…………………………………...……………13 2.4.2.1 Mass-dependent isotope effects…………………………………….…14 2.4.2.2 Mass-independent isotope effects……………………….………….…17 2.5 Isotope Research in Archaeology…………………………………………………18 2.5.1 Radioactive isotopes in archaeology………………………….………….…18 2.5.2 Stable isotopes in archaeology………………………………..………….…19 2.5.2.1 Stable carbon isotope analysis…………………………..………….…21 2.5.2.2 Stable nitrogen isotope analysis…………………………………….…25 2.5.2.3 Stable hydrogen and oxygen isotope analysis…………..……………..29 2.5.2.4 Stable strontium isotope analysis……………………….……………..33 2.5.2.5 Multi-isotope approaches……………………………….…………….37 2.6 Conclusion………………………………………………………….……………..40 CHAPTER 3: STRONTIUM ISOTOPE ANALYSIS IN PALAEOSCIENCE 3.1 Introduction………………………………………………………….……………42 3.2 Strontium in the Palaeosciences…………………………………….…..…………42 3.2.1 Palaeoceanography…………………………………………………………42 3.2.2 Palaeontology………………………………………………………………44 3.3 Isotopes in Human Origins……………………………….…………….…………45 3.3.1 Carbon isotope analysis……………………………….……………………45 3.3.2 Nitrogen isotope analysis…………………………………..…….…………47 3.3.3 Multi-isotope approaches…………………………………….….…………48 3.4 Strontium in Palaeoanthropology…………………………………………………51 3.4.1 Asia…………………………………………………………..…….………52 v 3.4.2 Europe………………………………………………………..……….……53 3.4.3 South Africa……………………..…………………………………………55 3.4.4 East Africa………………………...……………………………..…………58 3.5 Conclusion………………………………..…………………………….…………63 CHAPTER 4: METHODOLOGICAL OVERVIEW 4.1 Introduction……………………………………………………...………………..65 4.2 Isotopes of Strontium……………………...………………………………………65