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Department of Culture, Generalitat de Catalunya, Grant/Award Numbers: 2017 SGR 836, CLT009/18/00048; Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Grant/Award Numbers: RYC2020-029404-I, CEX2019-000945-M; Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities, Grant/Award Number: PGC2018-093925-B-C32; Fundacion Atapuerca, Grant/Award Number: 2021-2022

Analysis of institutional authors

Diez-Canseco, CCorresponding Author

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July 4, 2022
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Intra-tooth isotopic analysis (delta C-13 and delta N-15) of dentine collagen in high-crowned teeth: A new experimental study with modern sheep specimens

Publicated to:International Journal Of Osteoarchaeology. - 2022-09-01 (), DOI: 10.1002/oa.3138

Authors: Díez-Canseco C; Aguilera M; Tornero C

Affiliations

Autonomous Univ Barcelona UAB, Dept Prehist, Bellaterra, Spain - Author
Inst Catala Paleoecol Humana & Evolucio Social IP, Tarragona, Spain - Author
Univ Lleida, Dept Prod Vegetal & Ciencia Forestal, AGROTECNIO Ctr, Lleida, Spain - Author
Univ Rovira & Virgili, Dept Hist & Hist Art, Avinguda Catalunya 35, Tarragona 43002, Spain - Author

Abstract

Hypsodont teeth molars develop in a short lapse of time. Both dentine and enamel dental tissues do not regenerate once formed. This fact allows the reconstruction of isotopic sequences covering short moments of the individual's life span, a useful approach in current zooarchaeological and paleontological studies. Sampling design usually follows a serial or sequential extraction of dental bands perpendicular to the tooth growth axis, from the apex to the root. However, dentine develops following a secretion of layers oblique to the tooth vertical axis, and this pattern makes hard to isolate isotopic signals. A new experimental study with modern sheep breeds was conducted, covering a whole year and where carbon and nitrogen isotopic signatures of consumed plants were known. Three diet periods with different isotopic compositions were alternated during sheep's life. In this contribution, we test the resolution of a dentine sampling procedure to obtain intra-tooth isotopic variability of delta C-13(collagen) and delta N-15(collagen) values tied to diet shifts in sheep. Dentine was sequentially sampled in previously demineralized second and third mandibular molars. Samples were treated with standard protocols of collagen purification and then subjected to stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis. In M2 and M3 isotopic sequences obtained, diet shifts are recorded along two progressive trends of increasing-decreasing values, but some affections of the sampling procedure are also present. We conclude that the dentine sequential sampling here implemented allows for obtaining reliable intra-tooth isotopic data tied to dietary conditions in high-crowned teeth, although dentine growth patterns should be considered in detail in final interpretations. The integration of this high-resolution analysis in archaeological studies offers a new scope of possibilities for studying dietary patterns, seasonal dietary changes, and animal husbandry practices in past populations.

Keywords

Bone-collagenCarbon and nitrogen isotopesCattleDietaryFractionationModern reference data setN-15 natural-abundanceNitrogen delta-n-15Oxygen delta-o-18PlantsRatiosSequential analysisSerial samplingStable carbonTooth dentine

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal International Journal Of Osteoarchaeology due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency Scopus (SJR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2022, it was in position , thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Archeology (Arts and Humanities).

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from the Field Citation Ratio (FCR) of the Dimensions source, it yields a value of: 3.29, which indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: Dimensions Jul 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-07-12, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 1
  • Scopus: 1

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-07-12:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 10.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 11 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 8.3.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 14 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (Díez-Canseco Esteban, Celia) .

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been Díez-Canseco Esteban, Celia.