The UMMAA Brown Bag Lecture Series is pleased to present a lecture by Julia McCuaig, U-M archaeology PhD student. Her lecture, "Does Charring Affect New World Crop Stable Isotope Values? An Experimental Study Investigating Desiccated vs. Charred Plant Remains," will be held on Friday, January 30, 12-1 p.m. in Room 1322 in the School of Education Building.
Stable isotope analysis (SIA) on macrobotanical remains can provide unique insights into past diet, environment, and certain anthropogenic effects that are otherwise lost to time. When archaeologists collect macrobotanical remains, however, they are often found desiccated (dried) or charred (burnt). SIA studies by many researchers have investigated if there is a difference isotopically between the two states of preserved macrobotanicals, and some suggest that there is a difference in the stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic values. However, the majority of these studies focus on Eurasian crops, especially those of the C3 pathway. To our knowledge, the difference between desiccated and charred remains of North and South American crops has not been as thoroughly conducted, and not between C3 vs C4 pathways. In this study, we experimentally charred important North and South American crop staples, such as multiple varieties of corn (maize), avocado, and legumes. The results of this study will allow archaeologists to assess whether to apply an offset to allow for comparable results between desiccated and charred plant remains. This study is especially important, as it provides insight into if charring creates a greater offset between C3 desiccated and charred remains or between C4 desiccated and charred remains, implying a different offset needed based on the photosynthetic pathway of the identified sample.
The Museum's Brown Bag Lecture Series is free and open to the public.
