Isótopos estables aplicados al estudio de los sistemas paleoagrícolas mediterráneos

Resumo

The origin and development of agriculture is probably the the first example of large scale reciprocal interaction between humans and the environment. Recreating the environmental conditions favouring the onset of agriculture will contribute to infer the potential causes of this phenomenon, and to understand long term consequences of agricultural economy on the environment. We present the methodology used to recreate ancient climatic conditions and cropping techniques. It is based on isotopic analysis of carbon (13C enrichment) and nitrogen (15N enrichment), and it has been recently developed by our research team. 13C enrichment in charred cereal caryopsides has been used to estimate water use efficiency and yield of ancient crops in several archaeological sites in the Iberian peninsula and the Fertile Crescent. 15N enrichment provides qualitative information on crop nutrition. Finally, 13C enrichment of charred wood (charcoal) has been used to quantify climatic conditions (rainfall and water deficit) in the same archaeological sites, providing further insights on the local ancient climate.