Stable isotope analysis of fauna and soils from sites in the Eastern Free State and Western Lesotho, Southern Africa : a palaeoenvironmental interpretation

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dc.contributor.advisorSealy, Judyen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorLee-Thorp, Juliaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorSmith, Jeannetteen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2016-09-14T12:59:59Z
dc.date.available2016-09-14T12:59:59Z
dc.date.issued1997en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThis thesis examines the use of stable carbon isotopes as a means of reconstructing the palaeoenvironment of the Caledon River Valley of the eastern Free State, South Africa, and western Lesotho. In doing so, this work draws upon previous studies that have shown that the distinct distribution and δ¹³C values of C₃ and C₄ grasses are influenced by seasonality of rainfall and growth season temperatures. In general, C₃ grasses dominate in areas where conditions are cool/moist during the growth season, while C₄ grasses characterize those that are warm/arid. The isotopic composition of the grasses of an area, and thus climatic and environmental data, is passed along the trophic levels, through dietary intake by grazers, and decomposition into soil sediments. By measuring the ¹³C/¹²C ratios of carbon extracted from the calcified tissues of grazers and soil organic matter recovered from within an archaeological context, a palaeoenvironmental sequence has been reconstructed for the study area for the last 13 500 years. Results have shown that although C₄ grasses have dominated, the presence of C₃ grasses, at various times during this period, suggest that growth season temperatures fluctuated temporally and spatially.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationSmith, J. (1997). <i>Stable isotope analysis of fauna and soils from sites in the Eastern Free State and Western Lesotho, Southern Africa : a palaeoenvironmental interpretation</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Archaeology. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21773en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationSmith, Jeannette. <i>"Stable isotope analysis of fauna and soils from sites in the Eastern Free State and Western Lesotho, Southern Africa : a palaeoenvironmental interpretation."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Archaeology, 1997. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21773en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationSmith, J. 1997. Stable isotope analysis of fauna and soils from sites in the Eastern Free State and Western Lesotho, Southern Africa : a palaeoenvironmental interpretation. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Smith, Jeannette AB - This thesis examines the use of stable carbon isotopes as a means of reconstructing the palaeoenvironment of the Caledon River Valley of the eastern Free State, South Africa, and western Lesotho. In doing so, this work draws upon previous studies that have shown that the distinct distribution and δ¹³C values of C₃ and C₄ grasses are influenced by seasonality of rainfall and growth season temperatures. In general, C₃ grasses dominate in areas where conditions are cool/moist during the growth season, while C₄ grasses characterize those that are warm/arid. The isotopic composition of the grasses of an area, and thus climatic and environmental data, is passed along the trophic levels, through dietary intake by grazers, and decomposition into soil sediments. By measuring the ¹³C/¹²C ratios of carbon extracted from the calcified tissues of grazers and soil organic matter recovered from within an archaeological context, a palaeoenvironmental sequence has been reconstructed for the study area for the last 13 500 years. Results have shown that although C₄ grasses have dominated, the presence of C₃ grasses, at various times during this period, suggest that growth season temperatures fluctuated temporally and spatially. DA - 1997 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 1997 T1 - Stable isotope analysis of fauna and soils from sites in the Eastern Free State and Western Lesotho, Southern Africa : a palaeoenvironmental interpretation TI - Stable isotope analysis of fauna and soils from sites in the Eastern Free State and Western Lesotho, Southern Africa : a palaeoenvironmental interpretation UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21773 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/21773
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationSmith J. Stable isotope analysis of fauna and soils from sites in the Eastern Free State and Western Lesotho, Southern Africa : a palaeoenvironmental interpretation. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Archaeology, 1997 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21773en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Archaeologyen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherArchaeologyen_ZA
dc.titleStable isotope analysis of fauna and soils from sites in the Eastern Free State and Western Lesotho, Southern Africa : a palaeoenvironmental interpretationen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMScen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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