Proboscidean isotopic compositions provide insight into ancient humans and their environments

Isotopic analyses of proboscidean remains (e.g., mammoth, mastodon, gompothere, elephant) can provide significant insights into past environmental conditions and animal behaviour. Because they are associated with humans over a broad geographical and temporal scale, proboscidean remains can also be used to understand the activities and environmental contexts of ancient humans. This paper reviews the isotopic literature on proboscideans, including (1) bulk tissue approaches to understanding past climate, vegetation patterns, and migrations, (2) serial sampling approaches to understanding seasonal variations, and (3) direct uses of proboscidean isotopic compositions to investigate human lifeways, including Neandertal and Upper Paleolithic humans in Europe and Paleoindian/Clovis people in North America.