Identifying seaweed consumption by sheep using isotope analysis of their bones and teeth: Modern reference δ13C and δ15N values and their archaeological implications

Seaweed consumption by wild, feral and domesticated animals in coastal areas world-wide is currently likely widely underestimated. Seaweed consumption on the Orkney Islands by domesticated animals has become an established part of the archaeological literature, but the extent of seaweed consumption elsewhere is still largely unknown in archaeological contexts. The identification of small amounts of seaweed consumption by collagen delta C-13 and delta N-13 values remains problematic, as it is unclear to what extent seaweed consumption is reflected in skeletal tissues, and how results may vary between different tissues. In this study, modern sheep consuming known seaweed (predominantly kelp) and terrestrial diets on the Orkney Islands were analysed for delta C-13(collagen,) delta N-15(collagen,) delta C-13(bone) (apatite) and delta C-13(enamel) to provide a reference for archaeological studies. Seaweed and terrestrial vegetation were also analysed for delta C-13 and delta N-15 (n = 122). Seaweed delta N-15 values did not differ significantly from terrestrial vegetation on North Ronaldsay, indicating that delta N-15 is not a reliable indicator of seaweed consumption. In contrast, we confirmed that delta C-13 is a suitable marker for substantial seaweed consumption in all studied tissues in herbivorous diets in the absence of C-4 plants. The consumption of both seaweed and terrestrial vegetation led to a large degree of variability in delta C-13 results (-19.1 to -11.5 parts per thousand) within one herd kept under a consistent management system, due to differences in the amount of seaweed consumed by the individual sheep. However, when only small amounts of seaweed are consumed (<25%), this may not be evident in the delta(13)C(collagen )data. In contrast, when seaweed-consumption occurs primarily in winter, spring-born lambs may be expected to have substantially higher delta C-13 values than their mothers. This study emphasises the need for modern reference data in archaeology, and may aid the identification of seaweed consumption by herbivores globally.