Stable isotope evidence for salt-marsh grazing in the Bronze Age Severn Estuary, UK: implications for palaeodietary analysis at coastal sites

Britton, Kate; Müldner, Gundula; Bell, Martin

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2008.01.012

Cited by 165 publications

(134 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…No single factor can be confidently identified as accounting for all the results but with the integration of the δ 34 S results, salt marsh grazing is considered the most likely explanation for individuals with elevated δ 15 N at Fishbourne. Results are closely comparable to those acquired by Britton et al (2008) from the salt marsh environment of Brean Down in the Severn Estuary. Also salt marsh was in close proximity during the Roman period and it is likely that Fishbourne's southern garden -an area now presumed to represent a parkencompassed the salt marsh to the south of the palace.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 82%

“…It seems likely that in antiquity the grounds of the palace may have taken in salt marsh areas, as part of a large 'natural garden' to the south of the villa (Figure 3). Due to the isotope composition of halophytes (plants which favour saline environments), salt marsh grazing generates high δ 15 N values in bone collagen but has little effect on δ 13 C values (Britton et al 2008). Salt marsh grazing on a coastal estuary is also likely to have the same effect as sea spray, incorporating oceanic sulphate (SO 4 ) that elevates δ 34 S in the surrounding sediments and plants and thus the grazing animals.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fallow deer (Dama dama dama) management in Roman South-East Britain

Madgwick

Sykes

Miller

et al. 2013

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

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This paper presents new carbon, nitrogen and sulphur isotope data for European fallow deer (Dama dama dama) in Roman Britain and discusses results in light of evidence from classical texts, landscape archaeology, zooarchaeology and the limited available samples of metric data. The new isotope data presented here are from Fishbourne Roman Palace (Sussex), two sites on the Isle of Thanet (Kent) and a further two sites in London. In spite of small sample sizes the data make an important contribution to the very limited corpus of scientific research on the species and provide new resolution to the nature of fallow deer movement and management in Roman Britain.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 82%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Fallow deer (Dama dama dama) management in Roman South-East Britain

Madgwick

Sykes

Miller

et al. 2013

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

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“…Those with C/N ratios higher than 4.00 are shown in Table 1 in italic. Britton et al 2008;Bocherens 2003). It is also known that grasses and sedges have higher δ 15 N values than shrubs.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Elevated δ15N values in mammoths: a comparison with modern elephants

Kuitems

Kolfschoten

Plicht

2012

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

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“…Collagen was extracted using the method of Longin (1971) with some modification (Britton et al, 2008;Knipper et al, 2012;Salesse et al, 2014). Between 300 and 500 mg of bone sample was demineralized in 10 ml 0.5 M HCl at 4°C for approximately 14 days, with regular vortex and an acid change after one week.…”

Section: Bone Collagen Extraction and Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Stable isotope analysis is based on the principle that human and animal body tissues reflect the isotopic composition of the food and water ingested (Britton et al, 2008;Budd et al, 2013;Keenleyside et al, 2009;Müldner and Richards, 2007). Measuring the carbon (δ 13 C co ) and nitrogen (δ 15 N) isotopic ratios of bone collagen is a well-established technique for reconstruction of ancient diets (Bogaard et al, 2007;Craig et al, 2009;Keenleyside et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stable isotope and multi-analytical investigation of Monte da Cegonha: A Late Antiquity population in southern Portugal

Saragoça

Maurer

Šoberl

et al. 2016

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports

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This study presents for the first time the diet of a Late Antiquity population in southern Portugal (Civitas of Pax Julia), from the Roman villa of Monte da Cegonha (predominantly 7th century CE). Stable isotope analysis (δ 13 C, δ 15 N, δ 18 O, 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) of human and faunal bone collagen and apatite was conducted in order to understand the influence of Roman subsistence strategies on the way of life of rural inhabitants of the area of Pax Julia and to explore their diet (types of ingested plants, amount of animal resources, terrestrial versus marine resources). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses were used to determine the degree of bone diagenesis and assess the reliability of the bone stable isotopic composition for palaeodietary reconstruction. Anthropological analysis revealed a cariogenic diet, rich in starchy food and carbohydrates, in at least in two individuals based on the frequency of dental caries. Collagen and apatite carbon isotopic analysis suggested that C 3 plants were the basis of the population's diet, complemented with some terrestrial meat and its byproducts as reflected by the observed bone collagen nitrogen isotopic composition. Moreover, whilst the fairly low apatite-collagen spacing recorded in some skeletons (at around 4‰) may have been due to freshwater organisms intake, the relatively low nitrogen values observed indicate that this consumption did not occur very often, unless in the form of fresh fish of low trophic level or fish sauces. There were no significant differences in isotopic values depending on gender or burial type. Strontium and oxygen isotopic composition of bone apatite revealed a sedentary community, with the exception of a male individual who probably did not spend his childhood in Monte da Cegonha.

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Stable isotope evidence for salt-marsh grazing in the Bronze Age Severn Estuary, UK: implications for palaeodietary analysis at coastal sites

Cited by 165 publications

References 50 publications

Fallow deer (Dama dama dama) management in Roman South-East Britain

Fallow deer (Dama dama dama) management in Roman South-East Britain

Elevated δ15N values in mammoths: a comparison with modern elephants

Stable isotope and multi-analytical investigation of Monte da Cegonha: A Late Antiquity population in southern Portugal

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