Stable isotope analysis of Late Pleistocene mammalian teeth from western, central, and north-central India and the associated Palaeolithic archaeology of the Indian Subcontinent

Abstract

The oxygen (δ¹⁸O) and carbon (δ¹³C) ratios in bioapatite from dental tissues of fossil mammals are well-established proxies for climatic conditions and dietary patterns. In the present study, a total of 24 Late Pleistocene mammalian teeth belonging to Cervid, Bovid, Suid, Hippopotamid, Canid, Equid from Gopnath in Gujarat, ten separate localities from the Narmada Basin, and one in Son River Basin, India were analysed for δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values to understand palaeoclimatic conditions and associated dietary habits between marine isotope stages (MIS) 5 and 3 as estimated from stratigraphic and archaeological record. The δ¹³C values in the samples of Gopnath, Narsinghpur and Doma range from −3.1 to 2.3 ‰, −3.2 to 1.3 ‰, and −2.0 ‰, respectively. The higher δ¹³C values in these specimens suggest a diet based predominantly on C4 plants. On the other hand, a relatively lower and large range of δ¹³C values from Nehlai (−11.1 to −3.5 ‰) suggests a predominately C3 to mixed C3-C4 diet. The δ¹⁸O values in Gopnath, Nehlai, Narsinghpur and Doma are −4.1 to −3.1 ‰, −4.7 to −2.1 ‰, −4.0 to −1.9 ‰ and −5.8 ‰, respectively. The relatively lower δ¹⁸O value points towards humid climatic conditions and the relatively higher δ¹⁸O values suggest relatively arid climatic conditions. The regional contexts are dominated by Late Pleistocene geological records predominantly associated with Middle Palaeolithic evidence, and the preliminary isotope results indicate that contemporary hominin groups occupied warm and semi-humid environments. This study attempts to examine the Late Pleistocene environments and hominin adaptations across western, central, and north-central India on a comprehensive scale.