Stable isotope (O, N, C) intra-specific variations in B. primigenius skeletal remains from a Pleistocene cave sequence: A proxy for detailed palaeoenvironmental reconstruction

Abstract

Aim of this note is to provide proxy data for the intra-specific variation of the O, C and N isotopic composition in the case of fossil skeletal remains from well defined stratigraphicai sequences. These data can be subsequently used to evaluate the isotopic variations along the temporal sequence in terms of climatic and environmental changes. 110 samples belonging to B. primigenius from the Paglicci cave (S. Italy) stratigraphicai sequence dating from 32,600 to 13,350 yr BP were measured. The results obtained allowed the evaluation of the intra-specific isotope variability of the studied elements. However, the variability of the oxygen isotope values was too wide to allow their use for statistical considerations, likely because it was probably affected by diagenetic processes. However, the results obtained confirm earlier hypotheses about the environmental changes during Upper Pleistocene in the studied area.