Sequential dentine δ13C and δ15N isotope data from human teeth with evidence of vitamin D deficiency from the Netherlands and Belgium (17th–19th centuries AD)

Abstract

This dataset presents sequential carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope measurements from human dentine to assess potential isotopic variation associated with the presence of interglobular dentine (IGD). The dataset comprises nine teeth (eight first molars and one canine) from nine individuals dated to the 17th–19th centuries AD; five from the cemeteries of Hattem and Beemster (the Netherlands), and four from the Church of St. Anne, Koekelberg (Belgium). IGD had previously been identified in eight of the teeth, while one tooth held no evidence of IGD. Serial dentine samples were obtained using two commonly applied incremental methodologies; micro-slicing and micro-punching, to generate high-resolution δ13C and δ15N sequences along the growth axis of each tooth. Incremental δ13C values range from -21.4‰ to -18.8‰, and δ15N values from 9.3‰ to 18.2‰. The results indicates that IGD, and accordingly vitamin D deficiency, has a minimal effect on δ13C and δ15N values from human dentine, and does not affect the incremental sampling conclusions on diet and weaning.

Keywords

• Forensic Isotope Analysis
• Incremental Enamel Sampling
• Carbon and Oxygen
• Strontium
• Stable Isotope Analysis
• Life History Reconstructions