The aim of this research is the isotopic characterization of archaeological fish species to freshwater, brackish, and marine environments, trophic level, and migration patterns, and to determine intra-species variation within and between fish populations differing in location within central and northern Europe. Thus carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis was undertaken on collagen extracted from 72 fish bone samples from eight Mesolithic and Neolithic archaeological sites in central and northern Europe. Thirtysix (50%) of the specimens analysed produced results with acceptable carbon to nitrogen atomic ratios (2.9-3.6). The fish remains encompass a wide spectrum of freshwater, brackish, and marine taxa (n = 12), and this is reflected in the δ 13 C results (-24.5‰ to-7.8‰). The freshwater/brackish fish (pike, Esox lucius; perch, Perca fluviatilis; zander, Sander lucioperca) had δ 13 C values that ranged from-24.2‰ to-19.3‰, while the brackish/marine fish (spurdog, Squalus acanthias; flatfish, Pleuronectidae; codfish, Gadidae; garfish, Belone belone; mackerel, Scomber scombrus) ranged from-14.9‰ to-9.4‰. Salmonidae, an anadromous taxon, and the eel (Anguilla anguilla), a catadromous species, had carbon isotope values consistent with marine origin, and no evidence of freshwater residency (-12.7‰ to-11.7‰). The δ 15 N values had a range of 6.2‰ (6.5‰ to 12.7‰) indicating that these fish were on average feeding at 1.7 trophic levels higher than their producers in these diverse aquatic environments. These results serve as an important ecological baseline for the future isotopic reconstruction of the diet of human populations dating to the late Mesolithic and early Neolithic of the region.

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2The aim of this research is the isotopic characterization of archaeological fish species to freshwater, brackish, and marine environments, trophic level, and migration patterns, and to determine intra-species variation within and between fish populations differing in location within central and northern Europe. Thus carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis was undertaken on collagen extracted from 72 fish bone samples from eight Mesolithic and Neolithic archaeological sites in central and northern Europe. Thirtysix (50%) of the specimens analysed produced results with acceptable carbon to nitrogen atomic ratios (2.9-3.6). The fish remains encompass a wide spectrum of freshwater, brackish, and marine taxa (n = 12), and this is reflected in the δ 13 C results (-24.5‰ to -7.8‰). The freshwater/brackish fish (pike, Esox lucius; perch, Perca fluviatilis; zander, Sander lucioperca) had δ 13 C values that ranged from -24.2‰ to -19.3‰, while the brackish/marine fish (spurdog, Squalus acanthias; flatfish, Pleuronectidae; codfish, Gadidae; garfish, Belone belone; mackerel, Scomber scombrus) ranged from -14.9‰ to -9.4‰. Salmonidae, an anadromous taxon, and the eel (Anguilla anguilla), a catadromous species, had carbon isotope values consistent with marine origin, and no evidence of freshwater residency (-12.7‰ to -11.7‰). The δ 15 N values had a range of 6.2‰ (6.5‰ to 12.7‰) indicating that these fish were on average feeding at 1.7 trophic levels higher than their producers in these diverse aquatic environments. These results serve as an important ecological baseline for the future isotopic reconstruction of the diet of human populations dating to the late Mesolithic and early Neolithic of the region.

Biała Góra 3 is a small settlement founded in the late twelfth or early thirteenth century AD in the disputed Christian borderlands of Northern Europe. The incorporation of Pomerania into the Polish state in the tenth century was followed by a process of colonisation across the lower Vistula valley, which then stalled before resuming in the thirteenth century under the Teutonic Order. Biała Góra 3 is unusual in falling between the two expansionist phases and provides detailed insight into the ethnicity and economy of this borderland community. Pottery and metalwork show strong links with both Pomeranian and German colonists, and caches of bricks and roof tiles indicate durable buildings of the kind associated with the monastic and military orders. Evidence for the presence of merchants suggests Biała Góra 3 was one of many outposts in the commercial network that shadowed the Crusades.

The multilayer settlement site of Rakushechny Yar is located at the northwestern end of an island on the Lower Don River, Rostow region, Russia. It is one of the earliest Neolithic sites in the region, dating from the 7th to the 6th millennia cal BC. During the excavation of the settlement, numerous fish remains were found. To gain an impression of the fish species caught, the largest assemblages, recovered during recent excavations, from the Early Neolithic layers and one pit dated to the middle of the 6th millennia cal BC were analysed. The fish remains were quantified and total fish lengths were estimated. This revealed the relative importance of particular species, with wels catfish (Silurus glanis) being especially well‐represented, and additionally provided insight into the possible fishing methods employed and season of capture. The data demonstrate that the assemblage was dominated by the remains of freshwater species that could have been fished in the Lower Don River nearby. The spring and summer seasons were probably the most favourable time for capture, although fishing could also have been conducted throughout the year.