Isotope sourcing of prehistoric willow and tule textiles recovered from western Great Basin rock shelters and caves – proof of concept

Isotope and trace-metal analyses were used to determine the origin of plants used to manufacture prehistoric textiles (basketry and matting) from archaeological sites in the western Great Basin. Research focused on strontium ( 87Sr/ 86Sr) and oxygen ( 18O/ 16O) isotope ratios of willow ( Salix sp.)...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of archaeological science 2006-11, Vol.33 (11), p.1588-1599
Main Authors: Benson, L.V., Hattori, E.M., Taylor, H.E., Poulson, S.R., Jolie, E.A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Generalities
Isotopes
Lahontan Basin
Lovelock Wickerware
Metal industry
Methodology and general studies
Organisation and history of research
Prehistory and protohistory
Textiles
Typology, technology and attribute analysis
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Summary:Isotope and trace-metal analyses were used to determine the origin of plants used to manufacture prehistoric textiles (basketry and matting) from archaeological sites in the western Great Basin. Research focused on strontium ( 87Sr/ 86Sr) and oxygen ( 18O/ 16O) isotope ratios of willow ( Salix sp.) and tule ( Schoenoplectus sp.), the dominant raw materials in Great Basin textiles. The oxygen-isotope data indicated that the willow and tule used to produce the textiles were harvested from the banks of rivers or in marshes characterized by flowing water and not from lakes or sinks. The strontium-isotope data were useful in showing which plants came from the Humboldt River and which came from rivers headed in the Sierra Nevada.
ISSN:0305-4403
1095-9238
DOI:10.1016/j.jas.2006.02.012