FaunalIsotopes
Direct isotope values and model parameters from faunal bones and teeth, including Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen and Sulfur. Data for individual slices are stored separately in the FaunalIsotopeSequences table. Sometimes only a summary of these data (mean, min max) are available and stored in this table. Intra-tooth sequential analysis of bioapatite are used to investigate birth seasonality in past animal populations, using a sinusoidal model. Where published, these sinusoidal model parameters are stored in this table. A sinusoidal model requires four parameters: amplitude (A); period (D); mean (M); delay (φ), such that the output as a function of the distance (d) from the enamel-root junction (ERJ) is: d = A sin(2πd/D + φ) + M. However, the exact formulation can vary in several ways: 1) It can use either a sine function or cosine function (with a delay difference of 180 degrees). 2) It can use degrees or radians. 3) The delay can be described in terms of degrees or a proportion of 360 degrees. For example, Balasse et al 2019 use: A sin(2πd/D + φ) + M, which we hereby describe as 'model-balasse2019'. In contrast, Balasse et al 2012 use: A cos(2π (x-x0)/X) + M, where x is identical to d above and where X is identical to D above. Therefore this is equivalent to: A cos(2πd/D + 2πd0/D) + M, from which it can be seen that the delay parameter (d0) in millimetres is used in the term [ 2 x π x d0/D ] to become radians, doing the equivalent job as φ in the previous formulation. We decribe this model as 'model-blasse2012'. It is possible for many other formulations to be constructed, therefore it is necessary to specify the model, so that it is clear if the sine or cosine is used, and most importantly, if the delay parameter refers to degrees (φ in model-balasse2019) or millimetres (d0 in model-balasse2012).
Column name	Data type	Column description
FaunIsoID	varchar	Primary key
PhaseID	varchar	Please see the detailed description of the 'Phases' table.
SampleID	varchar	ID provided by primary source
SampleIDother	varchar	Sometimes additional sample IDs are available, for example one from the archaeologist, another by the isotopic analyst
ItemID	varchar	Use SiteID as prefix, and suffix with a number starting at 101.
TaxonCode	varchar
SkeletalElement	varchar	Name of bone or tooth. Case sensitive, as adult and milk teeth are defined by upper and lower case.
SkeletalPosition	varchar	Side of the skeleton, and/or upper vs lower for teeth.
Material	varchar
Age	varchar	Age at Death.
Notes	varchar
CitationID	varchar
Collagen(%)	decimal	Percentage of collagen in the sample.
C_collagen(%)	decimal	Percentage of carbon in the collagen sample.
N_collagen(%)	decimal	Percentage of nitrogen in the collagen sample.
S_collagen(%)	decimal	Percentage of Sulfur in the collagen sample.
C/N_collagen	decimal	Carbon / Nitrogen Atomic ratio (C:N) of carbon and nitrogen in the collagen sample.
C/S_collagen	decimal	Carbon / Sulfur Atomic ratio (C:S) of carbon and sulfur in the collagen sample.
N/S_collagen	decimal	Nitrogen / Sulfur Atomic ratio (N:S) of the nitrogen and sulfur in the collagen sample.
δ13C_collagen(‰)	decimal	δ13C of the carbon in the collagen sample, ‰.
δ15N_collagen(‰)	decimal	δ15N of the nitrogen in the collagen sample, ‰.
δ34S_collagen(‰)	decimal	δ34S of the sulfur in the collagen sample, ‰.
SequenceCount	int	If sequential sampling was done, this is the number (count) of sequences through the sample (such as the tooth enamel).
minδ13C_bioapatite(‰)	decimal	Minimum value from sequential sampling (e.g. tooth enamel) where individual sequence data are unavailable.
maxδ13C_bioapatite(‰)	decimal	Maximum value from sequential sampling (e.g. tooth enamel) where individual sequence data are unavailable.
meanδ13C_bioapatite(‰)	decimal	Mean value from sequential sampling (e.g. tooth enamel) where individual sequence data are unavailable.
minδ18O_bioapatite(‰)	decimal	Minimum value from sequential sampling (e.g. tooth enamel) where individual sequence data are unavailable.
maxδ18O_bioapatite(‰)	decimal	Maximum value from sequential sampling (e.g. tooth enamel) where individual sequence data are unavailable.
meanδ18O_bioapatite(‰)	decimal	Mean value from sequential sampling (e.g. tooth enamel) where individual sequence data are unavailable. Not to be confused with the model parameter (M).
model	varchar	Specifies the model used, since several models use parameters in different ways.
Amplitude(‰)δ13C_bioapatite(‰)	decimal	Model parameter: 'amplitude' (‰) for δ13C (usually 'A').
Period(mm)δ13C_bioapatite(‰)	decimal	Model parameter: 'period' (mm) for δ13C (usually 'D' or 'X').
Mean(‰)δ13C_bioapatite(‰)	decimal	Model parameter: 'mean' (‰) for δ13C (usually 'M'). Not to be confused with the mean value of the sequential sampling.
Delayδ13C_bioapatite(‰)	decimal	Model parameter: 'delay' for δ13C. Depending on the model, this might be degrees (φ) or millimetres (x0 or d0).
Amplitude(‰)δ18O_bioapatite(‰)	decimal	Model parameter: 'amplitude' (‰) for δ18O (usually 'A').
Period(mm)δ18O_bioapatite(‰)	decimal	Model parameter: 'period' (mm) for δ18O (usually 'D' or 'X').
Mean(‰)δ18O_bioapatite(‰)	decimal	Model parameter: 'mean' (‰) for δ18O (usually 'M'). Not to be confused with the mean value of the sequential sampling.
Delayδ18O_bioapatite(‰)	decimal	Model parameter: 'delay' for δ18O. Depending on the model, this might be degrees (φ) or millimetres (x0 or d0).