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The importance of animal baselines: using isotope analysis to compare diet in a British medieval hospital and lay population

Bownes, J. , Clarke, L. and Buckberry, J. (2018) The importance of animal baselines: using isotope analysis to compare diet in a British medieval hospital and lay population. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 17, pp. 103-110. (doi: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2017.10.046)

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Abstract

The results of carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis from two medieval populations are presented here, in a study investigating dietary habits within a medieval hospital population in England. We used δ13C and δ15N measurements of bone collagen in order to attempt to identify a distinct group diet within the medieval hospital of St. Giles, Brough, Yorkshire, and examine the reasons why the dietary habits within the institution may have been noticeably different from that of a comparative lay population. Following the results and tentative conclusions of a study conducted by Müldner and Richards (2005), it was hypothesised that religious fasting rules would result in there being evidence of greater consumption marine fish at St. Giles than at the rural township of Box Lane, Pontefract, Yorkshire. While more dietary variation was found at the hospital, it can be seen that the differences in δ13C and δ15N isotope values vary in relation to the animal baselines. Thus, differences between the human populations can be attributed to geological and environmental factors as opposed to dietary differences.

Item Type:	Articles
Keywords:	Medieval hospital, Yorkshire, diet, Middle ages, stable isotope analysis, animal baseline.
Status:	Published
Refereed:	Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:	Bownes, Dr Jessica
Authors:	Bownes, J., Clarke, L., and Buckberry, J.
Subjects:	C Auxiliary Sciences of History > CC Archaeology Q Science > QD Chemistry
College/School:	College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre University Services > Learning and Teaching Services Division University Services > Student and Academic Services > Academic Services
Journal Name:	Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports
Journal Abbr.:	JASREP
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	2352-409X
Published Online:	08 November 2017
Copyright Holders:	Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd.
First Published:	First published in Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 17: 103-110
Publisher Policy:	Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record

References

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Deposit and Record Details

ID Code:	151308
Depositing User:	Dr Jessica Bownes
Datestamp:	09 Nov 2017 10:46
Last Modified:	20 Jul 2023 13:25
Date of acceptance:	28 October 2017
Date of first online publication:	8 November 2017
Date Deposited:	23 November 2017
Data Availability Statement:	No