 |
 |
I don't think this has ever been done but potentially C/N isotopes could help resolve the issue - before and at birth the pig (or whatever) should have the same isotope signature as the mother, but as soon as it starts suckling it would be at a higher trophic level which would be detectable, especially for N. of course it takes an (unknown) anount of time, depending on (unknown) bone turnover rate - rapid for small fast-growing animals - for the signature to appear in collagen. it would be quite fun to try correlating isotopes, toothwear & measurements on a suitable set of mandibles... j Julie Hamilton Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art Dyson Perrins Building South Parks Rd OXFORD OX1 3QY email: [log in to unmask] Tel: (01865 ) 285216