Biogeochemical data from well preserved 200 ka collagen and skeletal remains

Data presented herein form part of a pilot study to reconstruct palaeoenvir onment using isotopic data from 200 ka collagen and skeletal remains. To da te such a study has only been possible on materials of up to 120 ka, due to poor preservation. but amino acid compositional analyses of mammal molar c ollagen herein indicate excellent preservation of the 200 ka collagen. Samp les studied were found in association with faunal evidence for a temperate climate, and oxygen and carbon isotope data support this evidence. Collagen delta N-15 values, however, are akin to those typically found in collagen from modern semi-arid to and environments. Similar data have been reported for the Eemian interglacial, and it is likely that these data reflect speci fic environmental adaptations, as opposed to aridity. This pilot study emph asises the need for complementary isotopic and stratigraphical analyses in palaeoenvironmental studies. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights rese rved.