Middle Holocene Bison diet and mobility in the eastern Great Plains (USA) based on δ13C, δ18O, and 87Sr/86Sr analyses of tooth enamel carbonate

Abstract During the Holocene, bison ( Bison bison) were key components of the Great Plains landscape. This study utilizes serial stable isotope analyses (tooth enamel carbonate) of 29 individuals from five middle Holocene (∼ 7–8.5 ka) archaeological sites to address seasonal variability in movement patterns and grazing behavior of bison populations in the eastern Great Plains. Stable carbon isotopes ( δ 13 C) indicate a bison diet that is similar to the C3/C4 composition of modern tallgrass prairies, while 87 Sr/ 86 Sr values generally indicate very little seasonal movement ( δ 18 O) further substantiate a model of localized bison herds that adhered to upland areas of the eastern Plains and prairie–forest border.