Multi-Isotope Analyses of Colonial Sheep from the Sydney Region, Australia: Implications for Husbandry Strategies

Abstract

Abstract Stable isotope analyses of faunal remains have demonstrated significant potential to enhance understandings of human-animal relationships during periods of European colonization. Isotopic analyses enable reconstructions of historical livestock management practices, including diet, provenance, and mobility, while also providing insights into past climatic and environmental conditions. This study presents the first application of a multi-isotope approach to archaeological sheep tooth enamel in Australia, using bulk analysis of carbon (δ¹³C), oxygen (δ¹⁸O), and strontium (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) isotopes to reconstruct herd management strategies in colonial New South Wales. Isotopic data was obtained from the tooth enamel of 29 early to mid-nineteenth century sheep recovered from an archaeological context on Clarence and Kent Street, Sydney, and compared with two modern Merino sheep of known provenance and inferred diets. δ¹³C analyses indicate that the archaeological sheep consumed a predominantly C 3 plant-based diet, likely comprising both native and sown pastures, consistent with grazing in open woodland and bushy or grass-covered habitats. The wide range of δ¹⁸O values suggests that the sheep experienced diverse environmental conditions during early life, reflecting variation in local climate, altitude, water sources and seasonality. Sequential ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr enamel analyses reveal limited individual mobility but provide evidence for multiregional livestock sourcing. ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values indicate at least three potential geological provenance zones, most likely within New South Wales, including regions beyond the Sydney Basin, although the possibility of overseas imports cannot be entirely excluded. These results contribute to broader understandings of livestock management, provisioning strategies, and environmental adaptation in early colonial Australia.