Abstract：
Stable isotope analysis from bones and teeth has been widely used to estimate the likely geographic locations and dietary status of individuals whose osseous remains have been retrieved from some forensic or bio-archaeological contexts. The carbon and nitrogen stable isotope signatures can provide insights into geographic affinity and dietary habits. Ajnala skeletal remains represent a serious crime against humanity committed in past by colonial rulers and by amateur archaeologists of modern times. In present study, isotopic concentrations of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) estimated from 21 mandibular molars have been used to estimate the local or non-local status of badly damaged skeletal remains retrieved from an abandoned well at Ajnala (India). The collagen samples having C/N ratio within range of 2.8-3.6 were considered as well-preserved and non-contaminated ones. The isotope concentrations of carbon and nitrogen varied from -18.7‰ to -22.9‰ and +7.6‰ to +11.7‰, with an average of -20.49 ± 1.2‰ and +9.31 ± 1.1‰, respectively. The analysis of the obtained isotope values reflected the consumption of C3/C4 mixed diet by majority of the individuals, and such type of dietary habits are mainly restricted to the reported Indo-Gangatic plain of India to which slain soldiers reportedly belonged to. These observations corroborated the previous observations about the geographic affinity and dietary status of Ajnala individuals. Though C and N isotopes are by and large not the confirmed/direct indicators of geographic origin, they can provide corroboratory information to support other observations narrowing down the dietary habits of individuals of certain specific geographical regions.
摘要：
骨骼和牙齿的稳定同位素分析已被广泛用于估计从某些法医或生物考古环境中检索到骨性遗骸的个体的可能地理位置和饮食状态。碳和氮稳定的同位素特征可以提供对地理亲和力和饮食习惯的见解。Ajnala骨骼遗骸是殖民统治者和现代业余考古学家过去犯下的严重危害人类罪。在目前的研究中,从21个下颌磨牙中估算的碳（δ13C）和氮（δ15N）的同位素浓度已用于估算从阿季纳拉（印度）的废弃井中回收的严重受损骨骼遗骸的局部或非局部状态。C/N比在2.8-3.6范围内的胶原样品被认为是保存良好且无污染的。碳和氮的同位素浓度在-18.7‰至-22.9‰和7.6‰至11.7‰之间。平均为-20.49±1.2‰和+9.31±1.1‰，分别。对获得的同位素值的分析反映了大多数个体对C3/C4混合饮食的消耗，这种饮食习惯主要限于据报道的印度-印度平原，据报道，被杀的士兵属于该平原。这些观察结果证实了先前关于Ajnala个体的地理亲和力和饮食状态的观察结果。虽然C和N同位素基本上不是地理起源的确认/直接指标，它们可以提供确凿的信息，以支持缩小某些特定地理区域个体饮食习惯的其他观察。
