A regional investigation of subadult dietary patterns and health in late Iron Age and Roman Dorset, England

Redfern, Rebecca; Millard, Andrew R.; Hamlin, Christine

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2011.12.023

Cited by 38 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 39 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Therefore, sufficient breastfeeding and appropriate food supplementation to subadults is important for the health of populations. Various isotopic studies have explored this aspect of BWPs in ancient human populations (e.g., Katzenberg et al, 1993;Fuller et al, 2006b;Pearson et al, 2010;Howcroft et al, 2012;Redfern et al, 2012;Henderson et al, 2014).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Reconstruction of breastfeeding and weaning practices using stable isotope and trace element analyses: A review

Tsutaya

Yoneda

2014

American J Phys Anthropol

197

188

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Biogeochemical methods using stable isotopes and trace elements have been increasingly developed and applied to reconstruct modern and ancient breastfeeding and weaning practices of mammals, including humans, because they offer direct proxies for the dietary intake of subadults. Carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen isotopes have been used to evaluate breast milk lipid, protein, and water intake, respectively. Carbon and sulfur isotopes have been used to estimate the content of weaning foods. The elemental concentrations of Sr and Ba in subadult tissues differ because of the dietary change during the weaning process. For analyses, various tissues have been used, such as hair, nail, blood, and feces for modern mammals and bone and teeth for ancient ones. Of these, trace element analysis of tooth enamel offers a good opportunity for the reconstruction of breastfeeding and weaning practices of the more distant past at finer resolution, although further understanding of the metabolism of trace elements is necessary. There are various tissue-and element-specific advantages and disadvantages, and a combination of different proxies can illuminate practices from various viewpoints. Finally, applying the geochemical reconstruction of breastfeeding and weaning practices to human ecology, primatology, and paleoanthropology is important; basic studies of the underlying physiological mechanisms and technical improvements in the analyses will further highlight avenues for future research. Yrbk Phys Anthropol 156:2-21, 2015. V C 2014 American Association of Physical AnthropologistsThe reconstruction of breastfeeding and weaning practices (BWPs) of ancient human and other mammalian species is one of the most important fields in anthropology, archaeology, evolutionary biology, and history. Infant feeding practices affect the overall health of the population because diet, health status, and growth at a young age have profound effects on an individual's later life (Dettwyler and Fishman, 1992;Katzenberg et al., 1996;WHO, 1998WHO, , 2009Lewis, 2007). Breastfeeding and weaning practices can be viewed from the evolutionary perspectives of life history theory, parental investment, child development, social system, and reproductive strat-

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Reconstruction of breastfeeding and weaning practices using stable isotope and trace element analyses: A review

Tsutaya

Yoneda

2014

American J Phys Anthropol

197

188

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Due to a strong discrimination against 13 C the δ 13 C values in C 3 plants such as wheat and barley are more negative (−19 to −35‰) than in C 4 plants (−9 to −35‰) (Ambrose 1993;Lee-Thorp 2008). The δ 13 C value becomes enriched by +1‰ for each trophic level, from prey to predator collagen (Redfern et al 2012).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A bioarchaeological approach to the Iron Age in Switzerland: stable isotope analyses (δ13C, δ15N, δ34S) of human remains

Moghaddam

Müller

Lösch

2016

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In Switzerland, a large number of Iron Age burial sites were found in the last century. Changes in living conditions and socio-cultural behavior may have occurred over time and space and could be reflected in the dietary habits, social stratigraphy within populations and migration patterns. This study attempts to shed light on these aspects with the application of stable isotope analyses. Human remains from 11 different burial sites (n = 164) in the area of today's Swiss Plateau and Swiss Alpine regions were investigated. Temporal and geographical variations as well as sex and age-related dietary differences were analyzed through isotopic studies (δ 13 C, δ 15 N, and δ 34 S). In total, the data of 129 individuals could be evaluated. Highly significant differences between the burial sites were found, with higher δ 13 C and δ 15 N values in the Alpine regions. Cultural and/or climatic changes as well as the different geological conditions might have led to distinct patterns of crop cultivation and animal husbandry and consequently to significantly different dietary habits in the Plateau and the Alpine regions. The data indicate a higher intake of millet and animal protein including early dairy production in the southern regions, probably influenced by the Mediterranean world.Cultural exchange between geographical regions might have been facilitated by migration during the Iron Age as suggested by the δ 34 S.

show abstract

“…In each trophic level of the food chain (prey to predator collagen), the δ 13 C ( 13 C/ 12 C) value is enriched by + 1‰, whereas the fractionation factor between plants and bone collagen is 5‰ (Redfern et al 2012 N) in bone collagen reflect the intake of animal protein like meat and dairy products (Ambrose 1993;Stevens et al 2010). The δ 15 N value 1968) increases towards the top of the food chain in an ecosystem; hence, nitrogen stable isotope ratios provide information about the trophic level.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Social stratigraphy in Late Iron Age Switzerland: stable carbon, nitrogen and sulphur isotope analysis of human remains from Münsingen

Moghaddam

Müller

Hafner

et al. 2014

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Iron Age cemetery of Münsingen in Switzerland with 220 abundantly equipped burials marked a milestone for Iron Age research. The horizontal spread throughout the time of its occupancy laid the foundation for the chronology system of the Late Iron Age. Today, skulls of 77 individuals and some postcranial bones are still preserved. The aim of the study was to obtain information about diet, mobility and social stratification of the individuals. Stable isotope ratios of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur were analysed for 63 individuals. For all of them, C 3 plants were found to be the staple food. There are significant differences between males and females in δ

show abstract

A regional investigation of subadult dietary patterns and health in late Iron Age and Roman Dorset, England

Cited by 38 publications

References 39 publications

Reconstruction of breastfeeding and weaning practices using stable isotope and trace element analyses: A review

Reconstruction of breastfeeding and weaning practices using stable isotope and trace element analyses: A review

A bioarchaeological approach to the Iron Age in Switzerland: stable isotope analyses (δ13C, δ15N, δ34S) of human remains

Social stratigraphy in Late Iron Age Switzerland: stable carbon, nitrogen and sulphur isotope analysis of human remains from Münsingen

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About