Middle Holocene Bison diet and mobility in the eastern Great Plains (USA) based on δ13C, δ18O, and 87Sr/86Sr analyses of tooth enamel carbonate

During the Holocene, bison (Bison bison) were key components of the Great Plains landscape. This study utilizes serial stable isotope analyses (tooth enamel carbonate) of 29 individuals from five middle Holocene (similar to 7-8.5 ka) archaeological sites to address seasonal variability in movement patterns and grazing behavior of bison populations in the eastern Great Plains. Stable carbon isotopes (delta C-13) indicate a bison diet that is similar to the C3/C4 composition of modern tallgrass prairies, while Sr-87/Sr-86 values generally indicate very little seasonal movement (<50 km) and relatively limited inter-annual movement (<500 km) over the course of 4-5 yr. Analyses of variability in serial stable oxygen isotope samples (delta O-18) further substantiate a model of localized bison herds that adhered to upland areas of the eastern Plains and prairie-forest border. (C) 2009 University of Washington. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.