A comparison of nitrogen isotope compositions of charred and desiccated botanical remains from northern Peru

Isotopic measurements of plant remains from archaeological sites are now routinely used to reconstruct agricultural practices in the Old World. These studies use charred botanical remains as the analytical substrate because (1) these are the materials that are commonly preserved in the archaeological record and (2) the integrity of the isotopic compositions of archaeological plant remains that are uncharred or desiccated has been questioned,...