@article {329011,
	title = {Zinc isotopes in Late Pleistocene fossil teeth from a Southeast Asian cave setting preserve paleodietary information.},
	journal = {Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A},
	volume = {117},
	year = {2020},
	month = {2020 Mar 03},
	pages = {4675-4681},
	abstract = {<p>Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios of collagen from bone and dentin have frequently been used for dietary reconstruction, but this method is limited by protein preservation. Isotopes of the trace element zinc (Zn) in bioapatite constitute a promising proxy to infer dietary information from extant and extinct vertebrates. The Zn/Zn ratio (expressed as δZn value) shows an enrichment of the heavy isotope in mammals along each trophic step. However, preservation of diet-related δZn values in fossil teeth has not been assessed yet. Here, we analyzed enamel of fossil teeth from the Late Pleistocene (38.4-13.5 ka) mammalian assemblage of the Tam Hay Marklot (THM) cave in northeastern Laos, to reconstruct the food web and assess the preservation of original δZn values. Distinct enamel δZn values of the fossil taxa (δZn \&lt; δZn \&lt; δZn) according to their expected feeding habits were observed, with a trophic carnivore-herbivore spacing of +0.60{\textperthousand} and omnivores having intermediate values. Zn and trace element concentration profiles similar to those of modern teeth also indicate minimal impact of diagenesis on the enamel. While further work is needed to explore preservation for settings with different taphonomic conditions, the diet-related δZn values in fossil enamel from THM cave suggest an excellent long-term preservation potential, even under tropical conditions that are well known to be adverse for collagen preservation. Zinc isotopes could thus provide a new tool to assess the diet of fossil hominins and associated fauna, as well as trophic relationships in past food webs.</p>
},
	keywords = {Animals, Asia, Southeastern, Caves, Collagen, Diet, Paleolithic, Fossils, Hominidae, Tooth, Zinc Isotopes},
	issn = {1091-6490},
	doi = {10.1073/pnas.1911744117},
	author = {Bourgon, Nicolas and Jaouen, Klervia and Bacon, Anne-Marie and Jochum, Klaus Peter and Dufour, {\'E}lise and Duringer, Philippe and Ponche, Jean-Luc and Joannes-Boyau, Renaud and Boesch, Quentin and Antoine, Pierre-Olivier and Hullot, Manon and Weis, Ulrike and Schulz-Kornas, Ellen and Trost, Manuel and Fiorillo, Denis and Demeter, Fabrice and Patole-Edoumba, Elise and Shackelford, Laura L and Dunn, Tyler E and Zachwieja, Alexandra and Duangthongchit, Somoh and Sayavonkhamdy, Thongsa and Sichanthongtip, Phonephanh and Sihanam, Daovee and Souksavatdy, Viengkeo and Hublin, Jean-Jacques and T{\"u}tken, Thomas}
}
