Stable Isotope Analysis (Carbon-13 and Nitrogen-15) of Collagen in Ungulates from the Mesolithic Site of Rottenburg-Siebenlinden, Germany

Results of elemental analysis on bone (Nbone), and collagen (Ccoll, Ncoll, C:Ncoll), collagen extraction yield (Yield), andisotopic analysis of collagen (δ13Ccoll, δ15Ncoll) are presented for red deer (Cervus elaphus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and elk (Alces alces) from the Mesolithic occupations at Rottenburg-Siebenlinden open-air site in southwest Germany. Direct radiocarbon dates were published in Kind (2006) and Kind et al. (2012). Bone sampling, pretreatment and collagen extraction followed the procedure described in Krajcarz et al. (2024a, 2024b). One bone sample did not meet the minimum nitrogen content (Nbone≥0.4%) required for collagen extraction (Bocherens et al., 2005) (indicated as na=not applicable). Two extracted collagen samples did not meet the quality control criteria established by DeNiro (1985) and Van Klinken (1999) (problematic data are underlined) and are therefore not considered reliable for paleoecological interpretation (unreliable isotopic values are struck through). All δ13Ccoll values are higher than –23‰, likely reflecting a foraging habitat outside of closed-canopy forests, where understory plants are typically depleted in 13C (e.g. Drucker et al., 2008).