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Isotope Analysis
Date 2009
Event ID 609272
Category Scientific Dating
Type Isotope Analysis
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/609272
HU 393 106 (excavation) In 1977 the disarticulated remains of 18 individuals (10 adults, 4 juveniles, 4 neonates) and grave goods that included pottery vessels, stone beads and tools were recovered during construction works at Sumburgh Airport. A bone from the assemblage was radiocarbon-dated to c3200 cal BC, making them the earliest human remains found on Shetland (Hedges and Parry 1980). The discovery at West Voe of Mesolithic-Neolithic transition middens some 400m to the S of the cist (Melton 2004; Melton 2005) and the
dating of the uppermost midden at West Voe to c3500–3250 cal BC provided an opportunity to examine this important period, and a programme of research on the human remains was initiated.
The research has consisted of an osteological reassessment of the human remains together with an AMS radiocarbon dating programme and carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses of dentine and bone collagen for dietary information (Melton 2008). This work has revealed that the cist was in use for a long period in the second half of the 4th millennium BC, and has confirmed that it was, in part, contemporary with the upper midden at West Voe. The number of individuals buried in the cist has been revised upwards to 27 and evidence of degenerative joint disease, periodontal disease and trauma has been noted in the skeletal assemblage. The carbon and nitrogen isotopes indicate both terrestrial and marine components in the Early Neolithic diet and are therefore consistent with the shell midden evidence from West Voe.
Ongoing research has focused on oxygen and strontium isotope analyses of tooth enamel and sulphur isotope
analysis of tooth dentine to provide data on the individuals’ origins. The strontium and sulphur results are both indicative of a coastal-dwelling population. Oxygen isotope analysis is underway but has been delayed due to instrument and data quality issues which have necessitated re-measurement.
Archive: 1977 excavation – RCAHMS
Funder: Historic Scotland and University of Bradford
N Melton and J Montgomery – University of Bradford
