Isotope dataset for archaeological biological remains in China

Stable isotope analysis has long been a key approach for reconstructing ancient human and animal diets and mobility in archaeology. Over the past four decades, and particularly during the past decade, isotopic datasets in China have expanded rapidly, creating a clear need for timely updates to comprehensive compilations. Existing compilations primarily focus on human bone carbon and nitrogen isotope data, while omitting animal and plant multi-isotope datasets, as well as strontium isotope records. In this study, we present the Isotope Dataset for Archaeological Biological Remains in China, the most comprehensive dataset to date. It compiles nearly 20,700 isotope measurements (1984-2026) spanning the Palaeolithic to historical periods across major cultural regions. The dataset integrates multi-isotope data (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, δ¹⁸O, δ³⁴S, and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) from human and animal tissues (e.g., bone, dentine, enamel, hair) and plant remains, alongside archaeological, chronological, and geographic data. Chronological control is provided by radiocarbon dates, cultural chronology, and stratigraphic information; quality indicators (collagen yield, %C, %N, %S, C/N ratios, C/S ratios, N/S ratios) are recorded where available. Hosted on the open-access Zenodo platform, the dataset provides an up-to-date resource for cross-study and cross-regional comparisons of archaeological isotope data in China, supporting future sampling strategies.