A multi-isotope analysis of Neolithic human groups in the Yonne valley, Northern France: insights into dietary patterns and social structure

Abstract

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New insights on Neolithic food and mobility patterns in Mediterranean coastal populations

“…No clear sex-related dietary/mobility pattern is evidenced, but it is worth reminding that, among coxal bones studied, marine protein intake was recorded only in a male individual and specific sulfur isotope ratios were recorded only in female individuals. While some Neolithic human groups demonstrate gender-based protein intake (e.g., in the Paris Basin (Rey et al, 2019): females consumed different animal proteins; or Auvergne (Goude et al, 2013): wider variability of resources consumed by women), Mediterranean groups studied until now (this study;…”

“…One of the most common hypotheses, sex‐based division of task and food acquisition, argues that differential access to resources is determined by sexual division of labor, with males consuming greater amounts of meat and females consuming greater amounts of plant foods (Berbesque, Marlowe, & Crittenden, 2011). Beyond this possible dichotomy, differences in food consumption between females and males have been explored through stable isotope ratios obtained on Neolithic human bone (Goude et al, 2013; Rey et al, 2019; Rey, Goude, & Rottier, 2017). Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope data indicate either a significant difference in animal protein consumption between males and females (Rey et al, 2017) or a wider range of ratios recorded in female bones.…”

Specifying subsistence strategies of early farmers: New results from compound‐specific isotopic analysis of amino acids

“… Note : 1: Chambon et al, 2013, 2: Rivollat et al, 2015, 3: Rottier et al, 2005, 4: Rottier, 2007, 5: Coutelas et al, 2015, 6: Loison, 1998, 7: Rey et al, 2019, 8: Rey et al, 2017, 9: Goude et al, 2019, 10: Goude et al, 2013, and 11: Goude et al, 2021.…”

“… Note : 1: Rey et al, 2019, 2: Rey et al, 2017, 3: Goude et al, 2019, 4: Goude et al, 2013, and 5: Goude et al, 2021.…”

“…Terrestrial wild animals do not seem to have been consumed to a substantial extent, in accordance with the zooarchaeological data, which suggests that hunting was a rather symbolic activity at this period. The role of plants in the diet is not known, and the trophic level (TL) of humans given by the nitrogen enrichment between humans and domestic animals is particularly high with respect to what is known in other contemporaneous sites (Δ 15 N animals‐humans = 4.7‰ at GLN, Δ 15 N animals‐humans = 3.8‰ at NFN and, in average, Δ 15 N animals‐humans = 2.9 ± 1 ‰ for about 30 Neolithic neighboring sites; Rey et al, 2019 Online Resource 10 and 11). In comparison, such a high value of Δ 15 N animals‐humans has been observed at the Les Bréguières site (4.5 ‰) and Baume‐Bourbon (4.5 ‰) in the South of France, where the heavy reliance on terrestrial animal protein, with possible consumption of aquatic food, was proposed (Goude, 2007; Goude et al, 2020).…”