Abstract
We present the first comprehensive multi-isotopic data on human and animal remains from the Final Neolithic Corded Ware culture (ca. 2900–2300 cal. BC) in south-eastern Poland. The study focused on communities of two settlement areas located in the Małopolska Upland and in the Subcarpathian region. Carbon and nitrogen isotopes of bone collagen were investigated to obtain insights into human dietary preferences, whereas the strontium isotope composition of human tooth enamel was used to trace the mobility and provenance of individuals. Sr isotope data point to a non-local origin of at least one-quarter of the investigated individuals in the Subcarpathian region, consistent with associated allochthonous grave inventories of eastern or western origins. In contrast, all investigated individuals in the Małopolska Upland were of local origin. Furthermore, our study shows an example that the use of fauna for the assessment of the local 87Sr/86Sr range of an archaeological site can lead to incorrect conclusions and suggests that a detailed Sr isotopic survey of the geological background and its hydrologic elements is necessary to provide conclusive constraints for the identification of local and non-local individuals in prehistoric communities. Carbon and nitrogen isotope composition of bone collagen indicate an omnivorous diet that included C3-based terrestrial plant and animal resources, in which plant food dominated. In both regions, there were no significant sex differences in dietary intakes. Higher δ15Ncoll values of younger infants presumably reflect the effect of weaning.
Highlights
Measurements of stable and radiogenic isotopes in human and animal tissues are a useful tool in archaeological research to enrich knowledge about past populations [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
The aim of this paper is to present the results of a multi-isotopic study of the Final Neolithic Corded Ware culture (CWC) populations from the uplands of south-eastern Poland
The carbon and nitrogen isotope composition of bone collagen enables the reconstruction of diet and nutritional customs of prehistoric humans; the method is routinely applied in archaeological research [1, 65, 66, 67]
Summary
Measurements of stable and radiogenic isotopes in human and animal tissues are a useful tool in archaeological research to enrich knowledge about past populations [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. Carbon and nitrogen isotope compositions of bone collagen provide proxies that allow reconstruction of dietary patterns and, in some cases, proportions of terrestrial vs aquatic resources [6] and the use of C3- vs C4-based foods within terrestrial ecosystems [7]. Burton and Hahn [16] expressed the opinion that this method can lead to “wrong, even absurd, inferences of locality and mobility”. Another recent study by Grimstead et al [17] demonstrates that a standardization for the collection of necessary baseline environmental data would be necessary, which does not currently exist. The present study aimed to provide some insights into this issue by investigating different strontium sources in the area studied, namely faunal remains, local bedrock and atmospheric waters
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