The Carbon, Oxygen, and Clumped Isotopic Composition of Soil Carbonate in Archeology

The stable isotopic composition of soil carbonate is a powerful means of reconstructing past environments. Carbon isotopes allow archeologists to reconstruct the proportions of C₃ and C₄ plants, from which the overall extent of woody cover can be calculated, at least at lower latitudes. Oxygen isotopes provide a view of past climate, including moisture sources, soil evaporation, and, in some cases, paleotemperature. Clumped isotopes also allow soil temperatures to be reconstructed, which in modern soils and under seasonal climates reflect the warmest months of the year. On archeological (Quaternary) timescales, the isotopic composition of soil carbonate is very resistant to alteration and should be a robust, albeit low-resolution source of paleoenvironmental information for archeologists.