Stable isotopic analysis of human and faunal remains from the Incipient Chulmun
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Stable isotopic analysis of human and faunal remains from the Incipient Chulmun
Stable isotopic analysis of human and faunal remains from the Incipient Chulmun
Journal of Archaeological Science 39 (2012) 2091e2097
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Journal of Archaeological Science
journal homepage: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jas
Stable isotopic analysis of human and faunal remains from the Incipient Chulmun
(Neolithic) shell midden site of Ando Island, Korea
Kyungcheol Choy a, b, Deogim An c, *, Michael P. Richards a, d
a
Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
b
Institute of Arctic Biology, Department of Biology and Wildlife, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
c
Department of Conservation for Cultural Heritage, Hanseo University, 360 Daegokri, Haemimyun, Seosan 356-706, South Korea
d
Department of Anthropology, University of British Columbia, 6303 NW Marine Drive, Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z1, Canada
a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t
Article history: We analyzed stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios of human and animal remains from the Ando shell
Received 5 August 2011 midden, South Korea. The Ando site is a rare Incipient Chulmun (Neolithic) site (ca. 6000e5000 BC),
Received in revised form which contains well-preserved human and animal bones in shell mounds. The stable isotope results
6 March 2012
for humans (average d13C ¼ 13.5 0.5& and d15N ¼ 15.2 0.5&) indicate that Ando people in the
Accepted 10 March 2012
Incipient Chulmun period strongly depended on marine resources. There were no isotopic differences
between humans of different sex and age at this site. We compared our data with other previous pub-
Keywords:
lished isotopic data from the Chulmun sites and found that the Ando people had similar isotope values to
Prehistoric subsistence
Carbon isotopes
the southern Chulmun people (Tongsamdong and Daepo), but different isotopic ratios than the western
Nitrogen isotopes Chulmun people (Daejukri and Konamri). These results indicate that marine foods were the main food
Palaeodiet resources in the southern coastal regions, but not in the western coastal regions in Chulmun Korea.
Chulmun (Neolithic) Ó 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Korea
1. Introduction archaeology. Most previous studies on subsistence patterns in the
Chulmun period have been based on the analyses of plant and
The Chulmun culture (ca. 6000e1500 B.C.) in the Korean animal remains from excavated sites (Lee, 2001, 2003; Crawford
Peninsula was a hunter-gather society characterised by sedentary and Lee, 2003), including shell middens (Norton, 2000, 2007; Lee,
villages and the use of “Chulmun” (comb-marked) pottery (Lee, 2001). Although these studies provide information about dietary
2001; Choe and Bale, 2002). As hunter-gatherers, the subsistence resources of the Chulmun population, palaeodietary reconstruc-
of the Chulmun people was based on plant gathering, fishing, and tions based on preserved food remains in excavated sites can be
the hunting of terrestrial and marine animals. The Chulmun people limited due to post-depositional factors, including poor preserva-
exploited a wide variety of wild marine and terrestrial resources tion of plant and animal remains (Kusaka et al., 2010).
(Rhee and Choi, 1992; Lee, 2001, 2003; Kim, 2002). Several studies Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of bone collagen is
suggested that domesticated plants such as foxtail and broomcorn a well-established method that provides more specific information
millets were introduced to the Korean peninsula at the beginning of on the types of foods (largely the protein sources) consumed by
the Middle Chulmun period (3500e2500 B.C.) (Crawford and Lee, ancient people (Ambrose and Norr, 1993; Katzenberg, 2000). This
2003; Lee, 2003). However, the exploitation of marine and terres- method provides direct evidence of diet and reflects the average
trial resources continued during the Middle and Late Chulmun isotopic composition of an individual’s intake of dietary proteins
period (Lee, 2001; Ahn, 2010). The Korean Peninsula witnessed over a long period. In the last few decades, this method has become
dramatic changes from hunter-gathering subsistence to agriculture a very common technique to investigate ancient diets (Lee-Thorp,
in the Mumun (Bronze) period (1500e300 B.C.) (Ahn, 2010). 2008). Using isotopic signatures in bone collagen from archaeo-
The investigation of subsistence patterns in the Chulmun logical sites, it is possible to establish the relative contribution of
culture has always been an important and debated topic in Korean distinctive food groups to the diet of prehistoric people. Specifically
it can differentiate from marine vs. terrestrial proteins, and plant vs.
animal proteins (Richards and Hedges, 1999; Katzenberg, 2000;
* Corresponding author. Tel./fax: þ82 41 660 1248. Lee-Thorp, 2008). The application of stable carbon and nitrogen
E-mail address: adi@hanseo.ac.kr (D. An). isotope analysis to prehistoric Korean remains has recently
0305-4403/$ e see front matter Ó 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.jas.2012.03.005
2092 K. Choy et al. / Journal of Archaeological Science 39 (2012) 2091e2097
increased (An et al., 1994; An, 2006b; Choy and Richards, 2009, on the coast and islands were occupied annually, based on their
2010; Shin and Lee, 2009; Choy et al., 2010; Kim, 2010), and there rich food resources. It is likely that the Chulmun culture is related to
are a few applications of stable isotope analysis to human bone Siberian and northern Manchurian cultures as well as the Japanese
collagen from the Chulmun period (An, 2006b; Choy and Richards, Jomon period (Lee, 2001).
2010; Kim, 2010). However, there are no previous applications of The archaeological evidence shows that subsistence of the
stable isotope analysis in the Incipient Chulmun period Chulmun people was largely dependent on diverse activities,
(6000e5000 B.C.) largely due to the lack of human remains from including plant gathering, fishing, shellfish gathering, and the
this time. hunting of terrestrial and marine mammals, and birds (Norton,
This study presents the first results of carbon and nitrogen 2000, 2007; Lee, 2001, 2003). The archaeological data show that
stable isotope analyses of human (n ¼ 5) and animal (n ¼ 8) bones the Chulmun people may have practiced a wide subsistence
from the Incipient Chulmun (6000e5000 B.C.) Ando shell midden strategy using resources from the riverine, coastal and forest
site. Only a few human bones from the Incipient Chulmun period environments (Choe and Bale, 2002). The presence of large shell
have been excavated in South Korea due to acidic soil conditions. middens along the coast has been interpreted as reflecting inten-
However, this site, which is located on a small island in southern sive marine resource exploitation (Norton et al., 1999; Norton,
coastal regions of Korea, contains well-preserved human and 2000, 2007; Choe and Bale, 2002). The abundance of fish bones
animal remains. We analyzed the stable carbon and nitrogen and fishing tools suggests that fish was an important resource for
isotope ratios of bone collagen of each human individual. Marine the Chulmun people (Norton, 2000). Faunal data show that sea
and terrestrial animal bones from the same site were also examined mammals such as sea lions, whales, and dolphins, were favoured
to obtain an isotopic baseline of palaeo-environments on the sources of food along the coasts and islands (Choe and Bale, 2002).
Korean peninsula that were contemporary with the Incipient Hunting of terrestrial animals such as deer and wild boar was also
Chulmun period. In this study, we attempted to reconstruct human important in the overall subsistence strategy (Lee, 2002). However,
diets in the Ando shell midden and to compare these isotopic despite evidence of diverse subsistence patterns in the Chulmun
measurements with other Chulmun shell midden sites to assess period, there are no detailed studies of dietary differences between
dietary variations of the Chulmun people in Korea. regions due to the limited archaeological evidence. Choe and Bale
(2002) suggested the possibility of regional dietary difference
2. The Chulmun culture in Korea between southern/eastern and western Chulmun people by
archaeological remains and settlements, but this regional dietary
Referred to as the Neolithic period in Korean prehistory, the difference has not been well investigated.
Chulmun period is characterised by hunter-gathering and fishing
with distinctive pottery and semi-subterranean houses. The 3. The Ando shell midden site
beginning of the Chulmun period is marked by the first appearance
of “Yungkimun” pottery (pottery with raised decoration) and the Ando Island is a small island (about 3.96 km2) located at the
end of the period is marked by the appearance of new plain pottery southern outermost of the Yeosu peninsula, South Korea (Figs. 1
styles, called “Mumun” pottery (Lee, 2001, 2003). On the basis of and 2). The excavation of this site was performed by the Gwangju
distinct characteristics of tool types and pottery traditions and National Museum (GNM) (2009). Situated on the northwestern
subsistence patterns, this period can be subdivided into several cost of the island, the Ando shell midden site extends over 200 m2
periods: Incipient (6000e5000 B.C.), Early (5000e3500 B.C.), and is located 10 m above sea level. Archaeological investigations at
Middle (3500e2500 B.C.), and Late (2500e1500 B.C.). The Chul- the site have exposed 4 burials, 9 hearths, 3 stone files and 11 pit
mun people were sedentary, living in villages of semi-subterranean structures. Numerous artifacts were found, including Early
houses located in coastal and riverine areas. Shell middens located Neolithic pottery (Yungkimun pottery), shell bracelets, bone pin
Fig. 1. Map of the Korean peninsula showing the location of the Ando shell midden site and other Chulmun shell midden sites mentioned in this study. 1: Ando, 2: Tongsamdong,
3: Daejukri, 4: Konamri, 5: Daepo.
K. Choy et al. / Journal of Archaeological Science 39 (2012) 2091e2097 2093
Fig. 2. Photograph of Ando Island (viewed from the north). Arrow indicates location of the Ando shell midden site. (Photo courtesy of GNM).
points and fishhooks and lithic tools. Radiocarbon dates of bones ratios of food sources. Bone collagen stable carbon and nitrogen
and shells by Seoul National University (GNM, 2009) suggest that isotopic compositions can indicate use of several food resources. In
this site was occupied throughout the Incipient Chulmun period a terrestrial ecosystem, carbon stable isotope ratios allow us to
(Table 1). Among 4 burials, 5 humans were relatively well distinguish food consumption of C3 vs. C4 plant sources (DeNiro,
preserved. Fig. 3 shows one of the human burials (human1 and 2) 1985; Ehleringer, 1991; O’Leary, 1995; Sage and Monson, 1999).
recovered from the Ando shell midden site. Among these, two Thus, the carbon isotope ratio can differentiate between the
individuals (human2 and 4) were excavated wearing shell bracelets consumption of rice (C3 plant) and millet (C4 plant), both of which
on their wrists. The age and sex assessments of the human skele- are important crops in the spread of agriculture through Asia (Lee,
tons were undertaken by Kim (2009a). In addition to the human 2003; Yoneda et al., 2003, 2004; Hu et al., 2006, Hu et al., 2008;
skeletons this excavation also revealed a variety of faunal remains. Barton et al., 2009). Rice has a d13C value of 26.1& and a d13C value
According to the faunal analysis (Kim, 2009b), the shell midden of foxtail millet varies from 11.8& to 10.7& and broomcorn
comprised mostly mussel (Mytilus coruscus: 80%) and oyster millet has a d13C value of 12.0& (Hu et al., 2006). Carbon isotope
(Crassostrea gigas: 17%). There were a few specimens of terrestrial ratios can also allow us to investigate the proportion of marine and
(deer and wild boar) and marine (whale, dolphin and sea lion) terrestrial protein resources (Schoeninger and DeNiro, 1984), as
animals. A few fish bones were excavated and the main fish species marine mammals and fish are enriched by 7& with relative to
present was red sea bream (Pagrus major). terrestrial animals (Chisholm et al., 1982; Kreuger and Sullivan,
1984). Furthermore, nitrogen stable isotope ratios reflect trophic
4. Stable isotope analysis for palaeodietary reconstruction position within an ecosystem, since body tissues show 2e5&
enrichment in d15N values relative to consumed foods with each
Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis has been increas- trophic level increase (Minagawa and Wada, 1984; Bocherens and
ingly applied to human and animal remains from archaeological Drucker, 2003; Hedges and Reynard, 2007). The enrichment of
sites across East Asia (Minagawa and Akazawa, 1992; Yoneda et al., d15N values at higher trophic levels is apparent for the marine
2003, 2004; Hu et al., 2006; Hu et al., 2008; Choy and Richards, system because the marine food chain has many more trophic
2009, 2010; Kusaka et al., 2010). This method is based on the levels than the terrestrial food chain (Schoeninger and DeNiro,
principle that stable isotopes of consumers will reflect isotope 1984). Thus, the combined use of carbon and nitrogen stable
Table 1
Radioactive carbon ages for the bone and shell samples collected from the Ando shell midden, as determined by accelerator mass spectrometry at the Seoul National University
(GNM, 2009).
14 14
Lab number Sample Location Amount (mg) C age BP Calibrated C age
SNU07-633 Bone (whale) p5 Neolithic surface soil 2.45 7410 60 cal BC 6320
SNU07-634 Bone (whale) p5 Neolithic surface soil 2.6 7430 60 cal BC 6330
SNU07-635 Bone (whale) p2 Layer I 1.89 6620 110 cal BC 5550
SNU07-A024 Shell (oyster) p2 Layer II 11.32 4490 60 cal BC 2720
SNU07-A025 Shell (oyster) p2 Layer I 11.19 6660 80 cal BC 5220
SNU07-A026 Shell (oyster) Hearth I 11.34 5370 60 cal BC 3790
SNU07-A027 Shell (oyster) Hearth I 11.35 6780 60 cal BC 5350
2094 K. Choy et al. / Journal of Archaeological Science 39 (2012) 2091e2097
Fig. 3. Human burial (human1 and 2) recovered from the Ando shell midden site. (Photo courtesy of GNM).
isotope ratios can enable us to investigate the proportion of marine Preparation and isotopic analysis of bone samples was under-
vs. terrestrial protein in the diet (Chisholm et al., 1982; Schoeninger taken in the isotope analysis laboratory, Department of Human
et al., 1983; Richards and Hedges, 1999). Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology,
Leipzig, Germany. Prior to the analysis, samples of each bone were
cleaned by air abrasion to remove any soil contaminants. To obtain
5. Materials and methods bone collagen from each sample, we followed the protocol outlined
in Richards and Hedges (1999) with the addition of an ultrafiltration
Human (n ¼ 5) and animal bones (n ¼ 8) from the Ando shell step (Brown et al., 1988). About 500 mg of bone from each sample
midden were chosen for isotope analysis. In addition, a human bone was demineralized in 0.5 M HCl solution at 4 C for 2 weeks and the
from the Neolithic Daejukri shell midden in the western coast was solid material was then gelatinized at 70 C in a pH 3 solution.
analyzed for comparison with the Ando samples. Although the shell Insoluble residues were removed with a 5 mm EZEE filter. The
midden contained a variety of shellfish, we could not measure stable remaining solution was filtered to collect purified collagen using
isotopes of rockfish and shellfish due to the lack of bone collagen in 30 kDa filters, and freeze-dried for 48 h. The dried collagen (0.5 mg)
these samples. Furthermore, there were no plant remains at this site. was placed in tin foil capsules and combusted to CO2 and N2 in
Although several studies have suggested that modern samples can a Thermo Finnigan Flash EA coupled to a Delta Plus XP continuous-
be used as a reference for isotopic signals, we could not use these flow isotope-ratio-monitoring mass spectrometer. The elemental
data because Chulmun ecosystems are different from modern analyzer supplied carbon and nitrogen contents at the same time.
Korean ecosystems. Thus, we only measured stable isotope ratios of The carbon and nitrogen isotope values were calculated relative to
bone collagen from the animal remains preserved in the site. the Vienna Peedee Belemnite (VPDB) for d13C and atmospheric N2
Table 2
Results of stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses of all human and faunal samples from the Ando and Daejukri shell middens.
Sample number Site Species Sex Age Element %Collagen d13C d15N %C %N C:N
yield (>30 kDa)
S-EVA-16396 Ando Homo sapiens (human1) Female 20e30 Tibia 0.41 13.5 15.5 42.4 15.1 3.3
S-EVA-16397 Ando Homo sapiens (human2) Male 30e40 Tibia 0.38 12.9 15.2 43.3 15.6 3.2
S-EVA-16398 Ando Homo sapiens (human3) Male 30e40 Humerus 0.64 13.1 15.6 43.0 15.5 3.2
S-EVA-16399 Ando Homo sapiens (human4) Female 50e60 Femur 0.32 13.6 15.4 43.7 15.6 3.3
S-EVA-16400 Ando Homo sapiens (human5) Male >60 Femur 0.38 14.2 14.4 40.1 13.8 3.4
S-EVA-16401 Ando Zalophus japonicus (sea lion) Phalange 0.17 14.0 18.1 43.5 15.4 3.3
S-EVA-16403 Ando Cervus nippon (deer) Metatarsus 0.44 21.1 4.2 43.1 15.3 3.3
S-EVA-16404 Ando Cetacea (whale) Vertebra 0.24 16.7 12.1 43.8 15.0 3.4
S-EVA-16405 Ando Delphinidae (dolphin) Vertebra 1.10 11.3 13.9 38.3 13.8 3.2
S-EVA-16406 Ando Thunnus (tuna fish1) Vertebra 0.71 13.6 11.1 42.6 15.0 3.3
S-EVA-16407 Ando Thunnus (tuna fish2) Vertebra 0.85 12.9 10.8 42.8 15.2 3.3
S-EVA-16408 Ando Selachimorpha (shark1) Vertebra 1.57 10.8 14.8 41.7 14.5 3.4
S-EVA-16409 Ando Selachimorpha (shark2) Vertebra 1.21 13.2 12.7 43.0 15.1 3.3
S-EVA-16412 Daejukri Homo sapiens (human6) NA NA Tibia 0.81 15.4 10.6 45.3 15.2 3.5
K. Choy et al. / Journal of Archaeological Science 39 (2012) 2091e2097 2095
Fig. 4. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios for human and animal bone collagen Fig. 5. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope results of human bones from the Chulmun
from the Ando shell midden. sites in southern (Ando, Daepo, and Tongsamdong) and western (Daejukri and
Konamri) regions of Korea. Animal data come from the Tongsamdong and Ando shell
midden sites.
(AIR) for d15N, respectively. Replicate measurement errors on
known standards were less than 0.2& for both d13C and d15N. We compared the isotope results from the Ando humans to
those results from other Chulmun humans in different areas of
6. Results and discussion the Korean Peninsula. Table 3 presents average stable carbon and
nitrogen isotopic values of humans from the reported Chulmun
The d13C and d15N values obtained from the Ando and Daejukri sites in South Korea and these results are plotted in Fig. 5.
samples are presented in Table 2 and plotted in Fig. 4. All bone Interestingly, the dietary patterns from the Ando shell midden
samples had C/N ratios between 2.9 and 3.6, indicating well- have a close similarity with two southern Chulmun sites, Tong-
preserved collagen (DeNiro, 1985). The d13C and d15N values for samdong and Daepo, that also depended heavily on marine
deer are consistent within those of Korean terrestrial herbivores animals such as shellfish, fish and marine mammals (Choy and
(Choy and Richards, 2009, 2010). The deer had isotope ratios within Richards, 2010; Kim, 2010). However, the isotopic data from the
the range of C3 plant consumers with d13C ¼ 21.1& and Ando site are not consistent with those from two western Chul-
d15N ¼ 4.1&. The d13C and d15N values from the sea lion were mun sites of Daejukri and Konamri (An, 2006a,b). The d13C and
d13C ¼ 14.0& and d15N ¼ 18.1&, which were the most enriched d15N values of the Daejukri and Konamri human samples were
d13C and d15N values among the marine mammals we measured. lower than those of the Ando site (Fig. 5). This means that the
The whale had isotope values of d13C ¼ 16.7& and d15N ¼ 12.1&. Daejukri and Konamri people obtained protein mainly from
Isotope results from the dolphin were d13C ¼ 11.3& and terrestrial resources.
d15N ¼ 13.9&, and the tuna fish values were d13C ¼ 13.3 0.5& The comparison of human stable isotopic ratios between the
and d15N ¼ 11.0 0.2&. The mean d13C and d15N values from two Chulmun sites suggests that there was a regional dietary difference
sharks were d13C ¼ 12.0 1.7& and d15N ¼ 13.8 1.5&. These between western and southern Chulmun people. These regional
isotope results are similar to those of terrestrial and marine animals isotopic differences could have several explanations. First, the
from the neighbouring Middle Chulmun site, the Tongsamdong site different subsistence adaptations during the Chulmun period could
(Choy and Richards, 2010; Kim, 2010). result from regional differences in ecosystems. The Chulmun
The mean stable isotope ratios of the five humans recovered people in southern Korea had access to marine resources
from the Ando site were d13C ¼ 13.5 0.5& and throughout the year and therefore they could depend on mainly
d15N ¼ 15.2 0.5&. These humans had high d13C and high d15N marine food resources (Choe and Bale, 2002). However, Chulmun
values similar to marine mammals, clearly showing that marine people in western Korea could not exploit marine foods throughout
foods like marine fish and mammals were the dominant dietary the whole year and therefore they likely consumed more terrestrial
protein resources, as might be expected for people living at or near resources through both wild plant gathering and the hunting of
to a coastal shell midden on an island. The mean d13C and d15N terrestrial animals. We can see similar regional differences in
values for males were d13C ¼ 13.4 0.6& and d15N ¼ 15.1 0.7&, Japanese Jomon culture (Minagawa and Akazawa, 1992). Although
and the mean d13C and d15N values for females were the Jomon culture in Japan was a hunter-gathering society, human
d13C ¼ 13.5 0.1& and d15N ¼ 15.5 0.1&. Therefore, although diets in Jomon culture had different dietary patterns from the
the sample sizes were small, there were no apparent d13C and d15N mainland to Hokkaido, depending on the food resources in local
differences between males and females. ecosystems.
Table 3
Average stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic values of humans from Chulmun sites in South Korea.
Site name Region Sample number d13C (mean) SD d15N (mean) SD Culture Dates (B.C.) Ref.
Ando South 5 13.5 0.5 15.2 0.5 Incipient Chulmun 6300e5000 In this study
Daepo South 5 13.1 0.4 15.6 0.7 Early Chulmun 5000e4400 Kim, 2010
Tongsamdong South 1 14.8 18.1 Middle Chulmun 3500e2000 Choy et al., 2010
Daejukri West 1 15.4 10.6 Late Chulmun 2500e1900 In this study
Konamri West 1 17.8 9.2 Late Chulmun 2100e1100 An, 2006a,b
2096 K. Choy et al. / Journal of Archaeological Science 39 (2012) 2091e2097
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We would like to thank the Gwangju National Museum for the Chulmun to Mumun Transition. Unpublished Ph.D. Dissertation, University of
Wisconsin-Madison.
permission to take samples from the Ando human and animal Lee, J.-J., 2002. From fisher-hunter to farmer: changing socioeconomy during the
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the isotopic measurements. This research was funded by the Max Beyond Affluent Foragers: Rethinking Hunter-gather Complexity. Oxbow Press,
Oxford, pp. 54e79.
Planck Society. Lee, K.-A., 2003. Changes in Subsistence Systems From the Chulmun to Mumun
Periods in Southern Korea: Archaeobotanical Investigation. Unpublished Ph.D.
Dissertation, University of Toronto.
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