To the field of stars: Stable isotope analysis of medieval pilgrims and populations along the Camino de Santiago in Navarre and Aragon, Spain

Pérez-Ramallo, Patxi; Lorenzo-Lizalde, José Ignacio; Staniewska, Alexandra; Aiestaran, Mattin; Aguirre, Juantxo; Sesma, Jesús Semas; Marzo, Sara; Lucas, Mary; Ilgner, Jana; Chivall, David; Higham, Thomas; Rodríguez-Varela, Ricardo; Götherström, Anders; Etxeberria, Francisco; Grandal-d’Anglade, Aurora; Alexander, Michelle; Roberts, Patrick

doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2023.103847

Cited by 1 publication

(4 citation statements)

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“…Regarding the only female individual in our study (COC(CL)20: δ 15 N = 9.8 ‰, and δ 13 C = − 18.5 ‰), this may provide lower values due to sex differences, which have been documented in other parts of the Iberian Peninsula 17 , 32 , 33 . However, a significant number of studies also observed no differences 4 , 29 , 34 – 36 . Still, the fact that we could only analyse one female individual inhibits any comprehensive comparison based on sex.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…The authors observed that individuals belonging to the Christian social elite of the time (10th-12th centuries CE) exhibited higher stable nitrogen isotope values (δ 15 www.nature.com/scientificreports/ Peninsula 17,32,33 . However, a significant number of studies also observed no differences 4,29,[34][35][36] . Still, the fact that we could only analyse one female individual inhibits any comprehensive comparison based on sex.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Therefore, we should approach this interpretation with www.nature.com/scientificreports/ caution until further analysis of local plants and freshwater fish can provide a more reliable model. In addition, the impact of an individual's geographical origin on these dietary patterns remains uncertain and necessitates further analyses, including studies using 87 Sr/ 86 Sr, δ 18 O, and δ 34 S proxies 34,35,44 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The dietary patterns of ancient humans can furnish insights into their social standing and origins 4 , 34 , 35 . The variability in stable carbon isotopes (δ 13 C) within terrestrial ecosystems is primarily shaped by the photosynthetic pathways employed by plants forming the foundation of the food chain 51 .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Unravelling social status in the first medieval military order of the Iberian Peninsula using isotope analysis

Pérez-Ramallo,

Rissech,

Lloveras

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

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Medieval Iberia witnessed the complex negotiation of religious, social, and economic identities, including the formation of religious orders that played a major role in border disputes and conflicts. While archival records provide insights into the compositions of these orders, there have been few direct dietary or osteoarchaeological studies to date. Here, we analysed 25 individuals discovered at the Zorita de los Canes Castle church cemetery, Guadalajara, Spain, where members of one of the first religious orders, the Order of Calatrava knights, were buried between the 12th to 15th centuries CE. Stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope analyses of bone collagen reveal dietary patterns typical of the Medieval social elite, with the Bayesian R model, ‘Simmr’ suggesting a diet rich in poultry and marine fish in this inland population. Social comparisons and statistical analyses further support the idea that the order predominantly comprised the lower nobility and urban elite in agreement with historical sources. Our study suggests that while the cemetery primarily served the order's elite, the presence of individuals with diverse dietary patterns may indicate complexities of temporal use or wider social interaction of the medieval military order.

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