Exploring diet and society in medieval Spain : new approaches using stable isotope analysis
The multi-faith society of medieval Iberia, where Muslims, Christians and Jews co-existed under changing religious political rule, provides a novel setting for the study of diet. This thesis employs carbon (ÎŽ13C) and nitrogen (ÎŽ15N) isotope analysis to explore variability in diet and resource exploitation between faiths, localities and through time under Muslim and later Christian rule and places the isotopic data in the context of other historical and archaeological evidence. Isotope analysis was performed on bone collagen from 126 animals and 210 humans representing Muslims and Christians, sampled from sites in Jaca, Zaragoza, AlbarracĂ­n, Valencia, GandĂ­a and Benipeixcar (c.11th -16th centuries AD) that follow a geographical transect from the Pyrenees to the Mediterranean coast, through AragĂłn and Valencia. Results indicate humans from all locations consumed a diet based on terrestrial plant and animal protein, with a possible input of aquatic resources at Zaragoza, Valencia and GandĂ­a. There were no consistent differences in diet between faiths, however differences were present between contemporaneous populations of Muslims and Christians in Benipeixcar and GandĂ­a and successive populations of Muslims
Mundee, Michelle Marie
Exploring diet and society in medieval Spain : new approaches using stable isotope analysis. The multi-faith society of medieval Iberia, where Muslims, Christians and Jews co-existed under changing religious political rule, provides a novel setting for the study of diet. This thesis employs carbon (ÎŽ13C) and nitrogen (ÎŽ15N) isotope analysis to explore variability in diet and resource exploitation between faiths, localities and through time under Muslim and later Christian rule and places the isotopic data in the context of other historical and archaeological evidence. Isotope analysis was performed on bone collagen from 126 animals and 210 humans representing Muslims and Christians, sampled from sites in Jaca, Zaragoza, AlbarracĂ­n, Valencia, GandĂ­a and Benipeixcar (c.11th -16th centuries AD) that follow a geographical transect from the Pyrenees to the Mediterranean coast, through AragĂłn and Valencia. Results indicate humans from all locations consumed a diet based on terrestrial plant and animal protein, with a possible input of aquatic resources at Zaragoza, Valencia and GandĂ­a. There were no consistent differences in diet between faiths, however differences were present between contemporaneous populations of Muslims and Christians in Benipeixcar and GandĂ­a and successive populations of Muslims
exploring diet society medieval spain new_approach use stable_isotope_analysis multi faith society medieval iberia muslims_christians jews co_existed change religious_political rule provide_novel set study diet employ carbon_nitrogen isotope_analysis explore variability diet resource_exploitation faith locality time muslim later christian rule place isotopic data context historical_archaeological evidence isotope_analysis perform bone_collagen animal_human represent muslims_christians sample_site th_century follow geographical transect mediterranean coast indicate human location consume diet base terrestrial plant_animal protein possible input aquatic resource consistent difference diet faith however difference present contemporaneous population muslims_christians successive population muslims