Abstract
Amino acid geochronology relies on the time-dependent breakdown of proteins in fossils. Mineral stability is an important aspect in amino acid geochronology, as any diagenetic alteration of the mineral is likely to also compromise the intracrystalline protein. In order to develop an amino acid chronology for a region, conventionally, an aminostratigraphy is first constructed for a given biomineral, with the extent of D/L values and intracrystalline protein degradation providing relative age information. The applicability of amino acid geochronology to a range of different biominerals enables it to span a range of environments and shed light on a diversity of questions. This chapter summarizes the current most commonly-used materials and their utility for archaeological investigations, including foraminifera and ostracods, mollusc shells and opercula, eggshell, corals, and the latest data on tooth enamel.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Handbook of Archaeological Sciences, Volume 1, Second Edition |
| Publisher | Wiley-VCH Verlag |
| Pages | 119-132 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781119592112 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781119592044 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Keywords
- amino acid geochronology
- aminostratigraphy
- archaeological investigations
- calcitic eggshell
- foraminifera
- Holocene corals
- intracrystalline protein degradation
- mineral stability
- mollusc shells
- tooth enamel