Measuring the impact of parchment production on skin collagen stable isotope (δ13C and δ15N) values

Doherty, S., Alexander, M. M., Vnouček, J., Newton, J. and Collins, M. J. (2021) Measuring the impact of parchment production on skin collagen stable isotope (δ13C and δ15N) values. Science and Technology of Archaeological Research, 7(1), pp. 1-12. (doi: 10.1080/20548923.2020.1868132)

Abstract

Parchment is one of the most abundant resources in archives across the world and is a unique time-sensitive material through which centuries of livestock economies, trade and craft can be explored. We examine the impact of structural and chemical modifications during production to δ13C and δ15N values in the skin, particularly the removal of cutaneous keratins and lipids and the conversion of amide functional groups into carboxyl groups via alkaline hydrolysis. Through the manufacture of 51 parchment skins (sheep, goat, calf and pig) using both historic and modern manufacturing techniques, we found production resulted in a small enrichment in 13C (average +0.12‰) and 15N (+0.26‰). Our results pave the way for the isotopic analysis of parchment in paleodietary and paleoenvironmental studies for the historic period and establish the acceptable C:N ratios in deamidated collagenous tissues.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Newton, Dr Jason
• Authors: Doherty, S., Alexander, M. M., Vnouček, J., Newton, J., and Collins, M. J.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
• Journal Name: Science and Technology of Archaeological Research
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• ISSN: 2054-8923
• ISSN (Online): 2054-8923
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Water 2020
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence