Isotopic evidence of Bronze Age diet and subsistence practices in the southeastern Carpathian Bend area, Romania
Human and faunal osteological material from the southeastern Carpathian Bend area, Romania, was analysed for ÎŽ13C, ÎŽ15N and ÎŽ34S to reconstruct the dietary practices of the Middle Bronze Age Monteoru culture. As a secondary objective, the extent of intraskeletal variation in stable isotope values was investigated by comparing skeletal elements with differing collagen turnover rates. The intraskeletal isotope results revealed a pattern where cortical bone samples produced statistically lower ÎŽ13C values compared to trabecular bone samples, highlighting the necessity for more systematic research to understand how stable isotopes are incorporated into bone collagen of various skeletal elements. Diet in the Monteoru culture was shown to be exclusively or predominantly terrestrial in origin with no detectable input of C4 or marine resources. Differences in average ÎŽ13C and ÎŽ15N values between the two sites included in the study (representing distinct phases of the culture) suggest a shift in dietary preferences from a more meat-based economy to a more dairy- and plant-based economy. The dissimilar contribution of animal foods to overall diet between the two sites was supported by estimates generated by the
Aguraiuja, Ălle
stable isotopes ; diet ; Bronze Age ; Monteoru culture. ; Romania
Isotopic evidence of Bronze Age diet and subsistence practices in the southeastern Carpathian Bend area, Romania. Human and faunal osteological material from the southeastern Carpathian Bend area, Romania, was analysed for ÎŽ13C, ÎŽ15N and ÎŽ34S to reconstruct the dietary practices of the Middle Bronze Age Monteoru culture. As a secondary objective, the extent of intraskeletal variation in stable isotope values was investigated by comparing skeletal elements with differing collagen turnover rates. The intraskeletal isotope results revealed a pattern where cortical bone samples produced statistically lower ÎŽ13C values compared to trabecular bone samples, highlighting the necessity for more systematic research to understand how stable isotopes are incorporated into bone collagen of various skeletal elements. Diet in the Monteoru culture was shown to be exclusively or predominantly terrestrial in origin with no detectable input of C4 or marine resources. Differences in average ÎŽ13C and ÎŽ15N values between the two sites included in the study (representing distinct phases of the culture) suggest a shift in dietary preferences from a more meat-based economy to a more dairy- and plant-based economy. The dissimilar contribution of animal foods to overall diet between the two sites was supported by estimates generated by the
isotopic evidence bronze_age diet subsistence_practice southeastern area romania human_faunal osteological material southeastern area romania analyse reconstruct dietary practice middle_bronze_age culture secondary objective extent variation stable_isotope value investigate compare skeletal_element differ collagen turnover rate isotope reveal pattern bone_sample produce statistically low value compare bone_sample highlight necessity systematic stable_isotope incorporate bone_collagen various skeletal_element diet culture show exclusively predominantly terrestrial origin detectable input marine_resource differences average value two_site include study represent distinct phase culture suggest shift dietary preference meat based_economy dairy plant based_economy dissimilar animal food overall diet two_site support estimate generate