δ13C and δ15N isotope analysis of modern freshwater fish in the south of Western Siberia and its potential for palaeoreconstructions

Here, we present new 613C and 615N data for modern and archaeological freshwater fish bone collagen from Siberia, together with summarized isotopic data for the Eurasian Steppe from previous research. Bioarchaeological material is an important source of information about people's lifestyle, economy and diets, and palaeoenvironment. Stable isotope analysis of fish bones, along with other palaeozoological and palaeobotanical material, is used for reconstruction of past human subsistence. The earlier isotopic study of human and faunal bones from the Preobrazhenka 6 site (south of Western Siberia) revealed elevated 613C values in fish bones (from -15.2 to -12.6%o), not typical for inland regions, from the settlement Neolithic layer of the site (Marchenko et al. 2015). In order to determine the possible sources of origin of the archaeological fish with high 613C in inland Central Eurasia, the isotopic composition of modern fish from rivers and lakes of the south of Western Siberia was analysed. The results show a large range of 613C in modern fish bones - from -29.6 to -8.3%o. Fish with high carbon isotopic values came from small, rather ancient (within the Holocene period) endorheic lakes.

Automated summary

The study utilizes isotopic analysis of fish bones, combined with other paleontological materials, to reconstruct past human subsistence, revealing that the high 613C values in fish bones from the Neolithic layer at a prehistoric settlement in Western Siberia originate from endorheic lakes.