Do fish remains provide reliable palaeoenvironmental records? An examination of the effects of cooking on the morphology and chemistry of fish otoliths, vertebrae and scales

Publication date: October 2016
Source:Journal of Archaeological Science, Volume 74
Author(s): Morgan C.F. Disspain, Sean Ulm, Christopher Izzo, Bronwyn M. Gillanders
The morphological and chemical properties of fish calcified structures provide excellent environmental and anthropogenic proxies; however, pre-depositional handling may alter these properties, confounding interpretations. This study examines the effects of some traditional processing and cooking methods on the morphological and chemical properties of modern fish otoliths (ear bones), vertebrae, and scales using an experimental approach. Whole mulloway (Argyrosomus japonicus) were treated using a range of techniques, including boiled in freshwater and saltwater; roasted directly on a fire and wrapped in clay; salted; and completely burnt. Samples were also obtained from untreated fish as controls for comparison. Otoliths, vertebrae and scales from the samples were subjected to morphological, trace element (⁷Li, ²³Na, ²⁴Mg, ⁵⁵Mn, ⁸⁶Sr, ¹³⁸Ba, ²⁰⁸Pb, and ⁶⁵Zn all ratioed to ⁴³Ca) and stable isotope analyses (otoliths and vertebrae – inorganic δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O; scales – organic δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N). Results reveal disparities in the chemistry and morphology of otoliths and vertebrae processed in different ways. The otolith and vertebrae carbonate δ¹⁸O values were lower in samples that experienced heating; burnt samples differed significantly from the control samples. Otolith and vertebrae trace elements were largely unaffected by the treatments relative to the controls; however, some individual elements within the burning and salting groups varied significantly. The impacts observed in the fish scales were less substantial. Results provide a basis for evaluating the suitability of archaeological samples for analysis. We recommend avoiding the use of heated samples. Findings highlight the need to conduct palaeoenvironmental reconstructions based on chemistry and stable isotope data of archaeological remains with caution.