Radiocarbon and stable isotope evidence of dietary change from the Mesolithic to the Middle Ages in the iron gates: New results from Lepenski Vir

Bonsall, C., Cook, G.T., Hedges, R.E.M., Higham, T.F.G., Pickard, C. and Radovanovic, I. (2004) Radiocarbon and stable isotope evidence of dietary change from the Mesolithic to the Middle Ages in the iron gates: New results from Lepenski Vir. Radiocarbon, 46(1), pp. 293-300.

Abstract

A previous radiocarbon dating and stable isotope study of directly associated ungulate and human bone samples from Late Mesolithic burials at Schela Cladovei in Romania established that there is a freshwater reservoir effect of approximately 500 yr in the Iron Gates reach of the Danube River valley in southeast Europe. Using the delta(15)N values as an indicator of the percentage of freshwater protein in the human diet, the C-14 data for 24 skeletons from the site of Lepenski Vir were corrected for this reservoir effect. The results of the paired C-14 and stable isotope measurements provide evidence of substantial dietary change over the period from about 9000 BP to about 300 BR The data from the Early Mesolithic to the Chalcolithic are consistent with a 2-component dietary system, where the linear plot of isotopic values reflects mixing between the 2 end-members to differing degrees. Typically, the individuals of Mesolithic age have much heavier delta(15)N signals and slightly heavier delta(13)C, while individuals of Early Neolithic and Chalcolithic age have lighter delta(15)N and delta(13)C values. Contrary to our earlier suggestion, there is no evidence of a substantial population that had a transitional diet midway between those that were characteristic of the Mesolithic and Neolithic. However, several individuals with "Final Mesolithic" C-14 ages show delta(15)N and delta(13)C values that are similar to the Neolithic dietary pattern. Provisionally, these are interpreted either as incomers who originated in early farming communities outside the Iron Gates region or as indigenous individuals representing the earliest Neolithic of the Iron Gates. The results from Roman and Medieval age burials show a deviation from the linear function, suggesting the presence of a new major dietary component containing isotopically heavier carbon. This is interpreted as a consequence of the introduction of millet into the human food chain.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Cook, Professor Gordon
• Authors: Bonsall, C., Cook, G.T., Hedges, R.E.M., Higham, T.F.G., Pickard, C., and Radovanovic, I.
• Subjects: Q Science > QD Chemistry; C Auxiliary Sciences of History > CC Archaeology
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
• Journal Name: Radiocarbon
• Publisher: University of Arizona
• ISSN: 0033-8222
• Copyright Holders: © 2004 by the Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona
• First Published: First published in Radiocarbon 46(1):293-300
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced with the permission of the Publisher.