Tracing the Source of the Elephant And Hippopotamus Ivory from ...

Chapter 12
Results and Discussion
Results of the Isotope Ratio Analyses for Carbon, Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Strontium
The results of the carbon and oxygen isotope ratios from apatite for the ten
Uluburun ivory samples and three Maraş Fili bone samples are listed in Table 11. These
results are moreover presented graphically as a simple X-Y plot in Figure 73. The carbon
and nitrogen isotope ratios from collagen for four ivory samples and three bone samples
are given in Table 12.
Unfortunately the results from the ICP-MS measurement of strontium isotope
ratios are difficult, if not impossible, to interpret. The samples were analyzed several
times and different numbers were given for many of the samples, suggesting the
particular type of ICP-MS employed lacked the necessary precision. Interpretation of the
carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen isotopes, as well as a discussion regarding the lack of
reliable strontium measurements follows in the next section.
Interpretation of the Stable Carbon, Oxygen, and Nitrogen Isotope Ratio Analyses
of Apatite and Collagen
From Figure 73 it is evident almost immediately that there are distinct groupings
from the Uluburun and Maraş Fili samples. Foremost of these is the expected grouping
according to animal, as the discussion from Chapters Seven and Eight on the diet and
ecological requirements of hippopotami and elephants demonstrated that elephants tend
to have a higher reliance on C3 browse, since elephants are generalist mixed feeders
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