Sulphur isotope evidence for freshwater fish consumption: a case study from the Danube Gorges, SE Europe

Nehlich, Olaf; Borić, Dušan; Stefanović, Sofija; Richards, Michael P.

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2009.12.013

Cited by 149 publications

(148 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…We cannot yet satisfactorily explain the pattern of stable isotopes, but these data emphasise the potential importance of complex dietary inputs, as well as the need for multi-isotope studies (e.g. sulphur and strontium: Bickle & Whittle 2013;Nehlich et al 2010). Of great benefit to the current study would be further research into the isotopic signals of resources from riverine and estuarine environments (cf.…”

Section: Summary and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Dates, Diet, and Dismemberment: Evidence from the Coldrum Megalithic Monument, Kent

Wysocki

Griffiths

Hedges

et al. 2013

Proc. Prehist. Soc.

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We present radiocarbon dates, stable isotope data, and osteological analysis of the remains of a minimum of 17 individuals deposited in the western part of the burial chamber at Coldrum, Kent. This is one of the Medway group of megalithic monuments – sites with shared architectural motifs and no very close parallels elsewhere in Britain – whose location has been seen as important in terms of the origins of Neolithic material culture and practices in Britain. The osteological analysis identified the largest assemblage of cut-marked human bone yet reported from a British early Neolithic chambered tomb; these modifications were probably undertaken as part of burial practices. The stable isotope dataset shows very enriched δ15N values, the causes of which are not entirely clear, but could include consumption of freshwater fish resources. Bayesian statistical modelling of the radiocarbon dates demonstrates that Coldrum is an early example of a British Neolithic burial monument, though the tomb was perhaps not part of the earliest Neolithic evidence in the Greater Thames Estuary. The site was probably initiated after the first appearance of other early Neolithic regional phenomena including an inhumation burial, early Neolithic pottery and a characteristic early Neolithic post-and-slot structure, and perhaps of Neolithic flint extraction in the Sussex mines. Coldrum is the only site in the Medway monument group to have samples which have been radiocarbon dated, and is important both for regional studies of the early Neolithic and wider narratives of the processes, timing, and tempo of Neolithisation across Britain

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Section: Summary and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Dates, Diet, and Dismemberment: Evidence from the Coldrum Megalithic Monument, Kent

Wysocki

Griffiths

Hedges

et al. 2013

Proc. Prehist. Soc.

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“…Our understanding of the ways in which these can be interpreted are therefore at an early stage, although it is clear that the data can reflect mobility related to the geology of the region of plant growth at the base of the food chain and to the proximity of the coastline, where the 'sea spray' effect of marine sulphates can be reflected in the dietary resources (Richards et al, 2001;Richards et al, 2003). distinguish dietary consumption of aquatic resources, although this is not likely to be relevant in this study (Nehlich et al, 2010).…”

Section: Sulphurmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Ranges of  34 S values for terrestrial European archaeological bone collagen go from -18 up to around +20‰ (Jay and Nehlich, unpublished data;Nehlich et al, 2010;Privat et al, 2007), although fully terrestrial herbivore diets well away from the coast might be expected to be centrally placed in that range (Jay, unpublished data).…”

Section: Sulphurmentioning

confidence: 99%

A calf for all seasons? The potential of stable isotope analysis to investigate prehistoric husbandry practices

Towers

Jay

Mainland

et al. 2011

Journal of Archaeological Science

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“…Sulphur isotopes are becoming increasingly utilized as an additional tool for bone dietary studies (e.g. Richards 8,9 ; Craig 10 ; Nehlich 11,12,13 ; Privat 14 ); in particular to distinguish between terrestrial and marine based diets. The data derived from the current study will contribute further knowledge to dietary practices of a marginal rural medieval settlement and explore whether or not there were any clear population influxes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-isotope analysis of the population of the lost medieval village of Auldhame, East Lothian, Scotland

Lamb

Melikian

Ives

et al. 2012

J. Anal. At. Spectrom.

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This study is one of only a handful to combine strontium, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen and sulphur isotope data for medieval human remains, in this case from individuals buried in a cemetery in the remote Scottish coastal village of Auldhame, which was abandoned in the 17 th century AD.The strontium and oxygen isotope analysis of tooth enamel suggests that the group was predominantly comprised of a local, static population and thus this allows the examination of the dietary habits of a remote coastal community. The combination of relatively high nitrogen isotope values with relatively low carbon isotope values within bone collagen suggests little marine protein in the diet, which is unusual given the coastal location. The community may have been consuming some freshwater fish or omnivores (pigs fed on animal diets), but also we suggest that the combination of isotope values could be explained by soil improvement methods.Some evidence for soil deepening at the site, and by association manuring, suggests the consumption of cereals was important to the diet, and may explain the high nitrogen values found in combination with terrestrial carbon isotope values. This combination of dietary isotopes has previously been suggested to be unusual for the medieval period, but we propose it is perhaps more common than originally conceived. As there are few previous multi-isotope studies from Scottish medieval assemblages on this scale, the study provides an opportunity to construct a picture of medieval and early post-medieval life in rural Scotland.

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Sulphur isotope evidence for freshwater fish consumption: a case study from the Danube Gorges, SE Europe

Cited by 149 publications

References 46 publications

Dates, Diet, and Dismemberment: Evidence from the Coldrum Megalithic Monument, Kent

Dates, Diet, and Dismemberment: Evidence from the Coldrum Megalithic Monument, Kent

A calf for all seasons? The potential of stable isotope analysis to investigate prehistoric husbandry practices

Multi-isotope analysis of the population of the lost medieval village of Auldhame, East Lothian, Scotland

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