Stable-Isotope Analysis as a Method of Taxonomical Identification of Archaeozoological Material

The paper discusses the possibility of using carbon isotope composition (ratio of 13C/12C) and nitrogen isotope composition (ratio of 15N/14N) for taxonomic diagnostics of animal bone remains from archaeological sites and other ancient deposits. The world literature pertaining to the use of stable-isotope analysis (SIA) in animal trophic ecology and methodological difficulties of work with subfossil material are reviewed. Several particular cases show a successful application of SIA for taxonomic identification of the archaeozoological remains, especially bones of brown and polar bears, large sea mammals and a few species of Anseriformes.