Major excursions in sulfur isotopes linked to permafrost change in Eurasia during the last 50,000 years

Rhiannon E. Stevens; Hazel Reade; Kerry L. Sayle; Jennifer A. Tripp; Delphine Frémondeau; Adrian Lister; Ian Barnes; Mietje Germonpré; Martin Street; Julian B. Murton; Simon H. Bottrell; Daniel H. James; Thomas F.G. Higham

doi:10.1038/s41561-025-01760-x

Major excursions in sulfur isotopes linked to permafrost change in Eurasia during the last 50,000 years

Rhiannon E. Stevens
, Hazel Reade
, Kerry L. Sayle
, Jennifer A. Tripp
, Delphine Frémondeau
, Adrian Lister
, Ian Barnes
, Mietje Germonpré
, Martin Street
, Julian B. Murton
, Simon H. Bottrell
, Daniel H. James
, Thomas F.G. Higham

Publications: Contribution to journal › Article › Peer Reviewed

Abstract

We identify a major sulfur isotope excursion in Eurasian faunal bone collagen from the last 50,000 years, here termed the Late Pleniglacial Sulfur Excursion. Our analysis suggests this is linked to changing permafrost conditions, presenting the utility of faunal collagen δ ³⁴S as a proxy for permafrost dynamics, a critical component of the global carbon cycle. Our findings complicate the use of archaeological faunal sulfur isotopes for mobility and palaeodietary studies.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	961-965
Number of pages	5
Journal	Nature Geoscience
Volume	18
Issue number	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-025-01760-x https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-025-01760-x
Publication status	Published - Oct 2025

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

105204 Climatology

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Stevens, R. E., Reade, H., Sayle, K. L., Tripp, J. A., Frémondeau, D., Lister, A., Barnes, I., Germonpré, M., Street, M., Murton, J. B., Bottrell, S. H., James, D. H., & Higham, T. F. G. (2025). Major excursions in sulfur isotopes linked to permafrost change in Eurasia during the last 50,000 years. Nature Geoscience, 18(10), 961-965. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-025-01760-x, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-025-01760-x

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title = "Major excursions in sulfur isotopes linked to permafrost change in Eurasia during the last 50,000 years",

abstract = "We identify a major sulfur isotope excursion in Eurasian faunal bone collagen from the last 50,000 years, here termed the Late Pleniglacial Sulfur Excursion. Our analysis suggests this is linked to changing permafrost conditions, presenting the utility of faunal collagen δ 34S as a proxy for permafrost dynamics, a critical component of the global carbon cycle. Our findings complicate the use of archaeological faunal sulfur isotopes for mobility and palaeodietary studies.",

author = "Stevens, \{Rhiannon E.\} and Hazel Reade and Sayle, \{Kerry L.\} and Tripp, \{Jennifer A.\} and Delphine Fr{\'e}mondeau and Adrian Lister and Ian Barnes and Mietje Germonpr{\'e} and Martin Street and Murton, \{Julian B.\} and Bottrell, \{Simon H.\} and James, \{Daniel H.\} and Higham, \{Thomas F.G.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2025.",

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doi = "10.1038/s41561-025-01760-x",

language = "English",

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Stevens, RE, Reade, H, Sayle, KL, Tripp, JA, Frémondeau, D, Lister, A, Barnes, I, Germonpré, M, Street, M, Murton, JB, Bottrell, SH, James, DH & Higham, TFG 2025, 'Major excursions in sulfur isotopes linked to permafrost change in Eurasia during the last 50,000 years', Nature Geoscience, vol. 18, no. 10, pp. 961-965. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-025-01760-x, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-025-01760-x

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T1 - Major excursions in sulfur isotopes linked to permafrost change in Eurasia during the last 50,000 years

AU - Stevens, Rhiannon E.

AU - Reade, Hazel

AU - Sayle, Kerry L.

AU - Tripp, Jennifer A.

AU - Frémondeau, Delphine

AU - Lister, Adrian

AU - Barnes, Ian

AU - Germonpré, Mietje

AU - Street, Martin

AU - Murton, Julian B.

AU - Bottrell, Simon H.

AU - James, Daniel H.

AU - Higham, Thomas F.G.

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N2 - We identify a major sulfur isotope excursion in Eurasian faunal bone collagen from the last 50,000 years, here termed the Late Pleniglacial Sulfur Excursion. Our analysis suggests this is linked to changing permafrost conditions, presenting the utility of faunal collagen δ 34S as a proxy for permafrost dynamics, a critical component of the global carbon cycle. Our findings complicate the use of archaeological faunal sulfur isotopes for mobility and palaeodietary studies.

AB - We identify a major sulfur isotope excursion in Eurasian faunal bone collagen from the last 50,000 years, here termed the Late Pleniglacial Sulfur Excursion. Our analysis suggests this is linked to changing permafrost conditions, presenting the utility of faunal collagen δ 34S as a proxy for permafrost dynamics, a critical component of the global carbon cycle. Our findings complicate the use of archaeological faunal sulfur isotopes for mobility and palaeodietary studies.

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JO - Nature Geoscience

JF - Nature Geoscience

IS - 10

ER -

Major excursions in sulfur isotopes linked to permafrost change in Eurasia during the last 50,000 years

Abstract

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

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