Paleodietary analysis of the prehistoric population of the Canary Islands inferred from stable isotopes (carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen) in bone collagen

Paleonutritional and paleodietary survey on prehistoric humans from Las Cañadas del Teide (Tenerife, Canary Islands) based on chemical and histological analysis of bone

“…However, despite the short number of cases, men showed higher d 15 N and d 13 C than women, as shown in Table 6. These results point to higher consumption of animal protein by men than by women, which has also been reported for other parts of the island and for other islands of the Archipelago (Arnay-de-la- Rosa et al, 2010). However, it should not be forgotten that pregnancy has been also associated to a decrease in d 15 N values (Fuller et al, 2004).…”

“…Herbivores show values 3& higher than their plant-based diet, and carnivores also show 3& higher isotopic values than their herbivore-based diet (DeNiro, 1985). In the present study we have observed d 15 N values higher than others reported for inhabitants of Tenerife's lowland (Arnay-de-la-Rosa et al, 2010). The significantly higher d 15 N values of bone collagen of humans from Las Cañadas support the hypothesis that consumption of non-leguminous plants and/or meat was greater by individuals from the highlands compared to those form the lowlands.…”

“…Isotope composition of the samples belonging to the population buried in Las Cañadas show some differences (although non significant) with that buried near the coast, with higher d 15 N and slightly higher d 13 C values (Arnay-de-la-Rosa et al, 2010), which suggest consumption of higher proportion of meat by the former.…”

“…In addition we also include some data relative to marine products previously reported (Arnay-de-la- Rosa et al, 2010;Tieszen et al, 1993). Although marine food was surely not available to people who lived permanently in Las Cañadas or nearby, it could be consumed by goatherds who only remained there during summer, or spent some days in coastal regions and some days in the highlands (Table 4).…”

A case of calcaneal osteomyelitis from the prehispanic population of El Hierro (Canary Islands)

“…Their economy was based on shellfishing, coastal fishing, and sheep and goat-herding (Arnay-de-la- Rosa et al, 2010). The climate is subtropical and arid, although humid trade winds and altitude (up to 1500 m) modulate climatic conditions and allow dense forests to grow in the northern slopes.…”