integrating resources in ancient Jordan : Reconstruction of diet and environment by stable isotope analysis of human and faunal skeletal remains
This thesis explores patterns of human and animal diet in ancient Jordan by carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis of bone and dentine collagen. Sampled sites include Pella and Sa'idiyeh in the Jordan Valley, and Gerasa, Yaamun, Yajuz, Sa'ad, and QAIA in the Western Highlands. The samples span from the Late Pottery Neolithic to the Early Islamic period. The development of the human-environment relationship is examined in light of the socio-economic changes that occurred during this interval. For both humans and domestic animals isotope data point to a diet based on C3 plantsderived resources. Yet, in most periods, instances were identified of herbivores consuming higher amounts of aridity -adapted C4 plants, this indicating that use of the resources from semi-arid habitats was one of the pursued strategies, and was possibly achieved through mobility. It is argued that the observed variability in the nitrogen isotope ratios of the herbivores results from the isotopic diversity of plants, this in tum reflecting the environmental heterogeneity of the region. A time related trend was identified at Ya'amiin, where the low-rainfall ecosystems played a greater role in the strategies of food production of the
sandias, Michela
integrating resources in ancient Jordan : Reconstruction of diet and environment by stable isotope analysis of human and faunal skeletal remains. This thesis explores patterns of human and animal diet in ancient Jordan by carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis of bone and dentine collagen. Sampled sites include Pella and Sa'idiyeh in the Jordan Valley, and Gerasa, Yaamun, Yajuz, Sa'ad, and QAIA in the Western Highlands. The samples span from the Late Pottery Neolithic to the Early Islamic period. The development of the human-environment relationship is examined in light of the socio-economic changes that occurred during this interval. For both humans and domestic animals isotope data point to a diet based on C3 plantsderived resources. Yet, in most periods, instances were identified of herbivores consuming higher amounts of aridity -adapted C4 plants, this indicating that use of the resources from semi-arid habitats was one of the pursued strategies, and was possibly achieved through mobility. It is argued that the observed variability in the nitrogen isotope ratios of the herbivores results from the isotopic diversity of plants, this in tum reflecting the environmental heterogeneity of the region. A time related trend was identified at Ya'amiin, where the low-rainfall ecosystems played a greater role in the strategies of food production of the
integrate resource ancient jordan reconstruction diet environment stable_isotope_analysis human_faunal skeletal_remain explores pattern human_animal diet ancient jordan carbon_nitrogen stable_isotope_analysis bone dentine collagen sampled site_include jordan valley western highlands sample span late pottery neolithic early islamic_period development human_environment relationship examine_light socio_economic change_occur interval human domestic_animal isotope data point diet base resource yet period instance identify herbivore consume high amount aridity adapted plant indicate use resource semi_arid habitat strategy possibly achieve mobility argue observed variability nitrogen_isotope ratio herbivore isotopic diversity plant tum reflect environmental heterogeneity region time related trend identify low rainfall ecosystem play great role strategy food_production