人骨與獸骨同位素組成分析已被成功應用於解析史前人類的攝食特徵和生業系統。本研究嘗試引此分析圓山遺址所出土的七具人骨和三具獸骨樣本之骨膠原碳、氮同位素組成,進而探討圓山人的攝食體系。分析結果顯示圓山人的飲食成分以C_3食物源,例如C_3植物和以C_3類食物為食的動物(鹿和豬),以及海洋食物源(可能主要來自貝類)為主,至於C_4食物源的貢獻則較小。此一結果與先前由生態遺留和出土器物等證據推論所得的攝食特徵與生業型態是吻合的。綜合言之,本研究成果不僅呼應前人研究,即圓山人以狩獵採集,並行C_3植物耕作為其生業活動;結合同位素分析結果和考古證據,則將此認識更加深化。
The application of isotopic analysis on human skeletons and faunal remains has successfully provided insights into the dietary patterns and subsistence systems of prehistoric populations. In this study, seven human skeletons and three faunal remains collected from the Yuan-Shan archaeological site were subjected to carbon and nitrogen isotopic analyses in order to investigate the dietary pattern of Yuan-Shan people. The isotopic results indicated that their diet may have consisted of mainly C3-based foods, such as C3 plants and the animals (e.g. deer and pig) that consumed C3 foods, and marine resources, potentially marine shellfish. The contribution of C4-based foods to the overall diet seemed to be minor. The isotope results conform to the previous paleodietary studies based on the evidences of ecofact and artifact remains of Yuan-Shan site. All available lines of evidence suggest that the Yuan-Shan people practiced hunting, gathering, and C3-plant cultivation as their subsistence activities.