Mediterranean Precipitation Isoscape Preserved In Bone Collagen Delta H-2

The prehistory of the Mediterranean region has long been a subject of considerable interest, particularly the links between human groups and regions of origin. We utilize the spatial variation in the delta H-2 and delta O-18 values of precipitation (isoscapes) to develop proxies for geographic locations of fauna and humans. Bone collagen hydrogen isotope ratios (delta H-2) in cattle (and to a lesser extent, ovicaprids) across the Mediterranean reflect the isotopic differences observed in rainfall (but delta O-18 values do not). We conclude that delta H-2 in herbivore bone collagen can be used as a geolocation tracer and for palaeoenvironmental studies such as tracing past isotopic variations in the global hydrological cycle. In contrast, human bone delta H-2 values are relatively tightly grouped and highly distinct from precipitation delta H-2 values, likely due to human-specific food practices and environmental modifications. Given the inter-species variability in delta H-2, care should be taken in the species selected for study.