%0 Journal Article %A Xingxiang ZHANG %A Yong LI %A Xiaotong WU %A Yanbo SONG %A Fengshi LUAN %A Xinming XUE %A Zhengyao JIN %T Multi-isotope analysis on the Yangtze Alligator osteoderm unearthed from Yellow River Valley during the Longshan Period %D 2021 %R 10.16359/j.cnki.cn11-1963/q.2019.0028 %J Acta Anthropologica Sinica %P 75-86 %V 40 %N 01 %X

Chinese alligators (Alligator sinensis) nowadays inhabit the downstream Yangtze River, but the alligator remains were found at several archaeological sites in Yellow river region during the Longshan period (5000~4000 BP cal). To determine whether these Yangtze alligators were indigenous or were part of long-distance trading from Yellow river region, we conducted Sr, C and O isotopic analysis of seven alligator osteoderms samples from Qingliangsi, Dinggong and Yinjiacheng sites dating from the Late Longshan Period. The87Sr/86Sr ratios of these alligator osteoderms in three sites fall into the local bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr ranges, and the δ 18O ratio of Shandong samples was higher than Shanxi samples, which was consistent with the trend of δ 18O increasing from the inland to coastal, indicating that these remains are mainly indigenous. The δ 13C of Chinese alligator osteoderm were significantly higher than the rest of the world’s inland freshwater systems crocodile, showing complex diet characteristics. The result of isotopes that is better to understand the geographical distribution change of Yangtze alligators in different periods, which is of great significance for reconstructing the paleo-environment of North China more than 4000 years ago. It also raised new questions about the relationship between the ancestors of Longshan and the Chinese alligator.

%U https://www.anthropol.ac.cn/EN/10.16359/j.cnki.cn11-1963/q.2019.0028