Dietary Reconstruction Research Articles

Tooth eruption status and bite force determine dental microwear texture gradients in albino rats (Rattus norvegicus forma domestica).

Dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA) is widely applied for inferring diet in vertebrates. Besides diet and ingesta properties, factors like wear stage and bite force may affect microwear formation, potentially leading to tooth position-specific microwear patterns. We investigated DMTA consistency along the upper cheek tooth row in young adult female rats at different growth stages, but with erupted adult dentitions. Bite forces for each molar (M) position were determined using muscle cross-sectional areas and lever arm mechanics. Rats were categorized into three size classes based on increasing skull length. Maximum bite force increased with size, while across all size classes, M3 bite force was almost 1.4 times higher than M1 bite force. In size class 1, M1 and M2 showed higher values than M3 for DMTA complexity, height, and volume parameters, while in size class 3, M1 had the lowest values. Comparing the same tooth position between size classes revealed opposing trends: M1 and M2 showed, for most parameters, decreasing roughness and complexity from size class 1-3, while M3 displayed the opposite trend, with size class 1 showing lowest, and either size class 2 or 3 the highest roughness and complexity values. This suggests that as rats age and M3 fully occludes, it becomes more utilized during mastication. DMTA, being a short-term diet proxy, is influenced by eruption and occlusion status changes. Our findings emphasize the importance of bite force and ontogenetic stage when interpreting microwear patterns and advise to select teeth in full occlusion for diet reconstruction.

Paleoecology of an extinct Cervidae (Haploidoceros mediterraneus) of the Middle-late Pleistocene in Southern Europe

Haploidoceros mediterraneus is one of the recently described cervid taxa endemic to the Iberian Peninsula (three sites) and southern France (two sites). Compared to the other endemic cervids from Iberia that have emerged, as well, during the mid-Middle Pleistocene, its chronological and geographical range are more expanded, indicative of a relative adaptative success. However, very little is known about H. mediterraneus ecology. From site contexts and faunal associations, its habitat during the Middle and Late Pleistocene corresponded to open forest under a mildly-humid temperate Mediterranean or semi-continental climate. First, its diet was reconstructed using dental meso- and microwear and second, its relationships with other cervids over time was analysed using Multiple Component Analysis (MCA). Diet reconstruction indicates that it was mostly a browse-dominated mixed-feeder during the Middle Pleistocene. Such a relatively flexible diet has allowed it to coexist, often with some cervid taxa (Cervus and Capreolus) and exceptionally with others (Praedama/Megaloceros and Dama sp.) by resource partitioning. During the Late Pleistocene, H. mediterraneus shifted toward a more browse-specialized diet. At this period, co-occurrence analyses show that the presence of H. mediterraneus seems to exclude that of C. capreolus and D. dama. The evolution of H. mediterraneus dietary habits from the Middle to the Late Pleistocene may have led to direct competition with other browsing-specialist cervids, which may be one of the causes of its extinction.

Kurganless Cemetery of the Sarmatian Times on the Maloe Storozhevoe Hillfort in the Middle Don Basin

The paper publishes research results on five burials discovered at the smaller of the two hillforts of the Scythian era located near the village Storozhevoye 1st on the river Don. The results of their comprehensive archaeological and anthropological study characterize the little-studied kurganless tradition of the Sarmatian period in the forest-steppe Don region. Ethnical, cultural and chronological attribution of the complexes is based on the ritual and material analogies. The study of anthropological materials was carried out using standard methods. Reconstruction of the buried individuals diet was carried out based on the results of the ratio of stable isotopes of nitrogen and carbon (д13C and д15N) in bone tissue collagen. The burials were located in the embankment of a shaft and contained the remains of four men (25–30, 25–35, 40–44 and 60+ years old), a teenager (14–19 years old) and a child (5–10 years old). Based on the ritual and a small inventory, they are identified as Sarmatian and dated within the 1st – early 2nd centuries. As a rule, the dead were placed in relatively shallow graves (about 0.4 m) on their backs in an extended position with their heads facing southeast. The two graves destroyed the earlier burials of the teenager and the child, whose skeletal remains were displaced. The burial of an older man stands out buried in a deeper grave (0.7 m) and with a set of objects (an iron dagger, a clay bowl with an iron knife and animal bones). A silver earring and a bone bead were buried with the two individuals. Traces of trauma and pathology on the bones were either absent or few in number (caries, abrasion and loss of teeth). The plant component (apparently millet) dominated the diet of the individuals, but meat and dairy foods occupied an important place as well. The burials apparently belonged to the inhabitants of a hillfort Bol’shoe Storozhevoe located nearby, the layers of which also contain materials from the Sarmatian era. They constituted a small burial ground associated with the lifestyle transformation of one of the semi-nomadic societies in the region.

Use of Proteomics for Dietary Reconstruction: A Case Study Using Animal Teeth from Ancient Mesopotamia.

This research examines animal teeth from Early Dynastic (2900-2350 BCE) Mesopotamia (Southern Iraq) to assess animal management practices and identify consumption patterns in animal diets. The objective to answer larger questions about food management and environmental resilience in ancient early complex societies in the Near East was achieved by the use of mass spectrometry-based proteomics for dietary reconstruction. Dietary MS, a revolutionary new methodology applying proteomics techniques to archeological sample sets to reconstruct ancient animal diet. A developed protein extraction technique followed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry allowed for the identification of the specific plant species consumed in order to highlight variable herd management strategies, resource optimization, for each taxon over time. It also provided information about overall health and indications of disease. This is the first study to apply a full suite of analyses to the region and provides the foundations of a necessary long-term view of human interaction within an environment, through both time and space.

Testing dental microwear as a proxy for characterising trophic ecology in fossil elasmobranchs (chondrichthyans)

Dental microwear analysis is a well-established technique that provides valuable information about the diets of extant and extinct taxa. It has been used effectively in most major groups of vertebrates. However, in chondrichthyans, these methods have been implemented only recently in the form of dental microwear texture analysis, with conflicting results. Causes intrinsic to chondrichthyan biology, such as limited food-to-tooth contact, low diversity in terms of trophic categories or fast tooth replacement, have been suggested to reduce diet-related wear on individual teeth, hindering the use of this approach for reliable dietary reconstruction. Here, we explored the relationship between diet and dental microwear in chondrichthyans by using 2D analysis, which can provide finer-scale identification and accurate definition of scratch morphology from tooth surfaces a priori. Scratches were counted and measured on the teeth of 34 extant elasmobranchs grouped into three categories (piscivorous, durophagous and generalist) according to dietary preferences. Our results revealed specific patterns of tooth microwear as a function of dietary abrasiveness, enabling the discrimination of trophic groups and thus establishing a useful comparative framework for inferring aspects of trophic ecology in fossils. We then used this information to study dental microwear in six fossil species from the same locality and stratigraphic levels. First, analyses of the enameloid surfaces of the fossil show that post-mortem alterations are distinguishable, allowing reliable quantification of diet-related ante-mortem microwear signatures. Discriminant analysis allowed the recognition of microwear patterns comparable to those of living sharks and linked them to specific trophic groups with high probability levels (> 90%). Thus, microwear features developing on chondrichthyan teeth during feeding are intense enough to retain information regarding diet preferences. 2D microwear analysis can track this information, proving to be a useful tool for providing significant information not only about diet but also about oral processing mechanisms in extinct chondrichthyans.

Dental topography of prosimian premolars predicts diet: A comparison in premolar and molar dietary classification accuracies.

This study tests whether (1) premolar topography of extant "prosimians" (strepsirrhines and tarsiers) successfully predicts diet and (2) whether the combination of molar and premolar topography yields higher classification accuracy than using either tooth position in isolation. Dental topographic metrics (ariaDNE, relief index, and orientation patch count rotated) were calculated for 118 individual matched-pairs of mandibular fourth premolars (P4) and second molars (M2). The sample represents 7 families and 22 genera. Tooth variables were analyzed in isolation (P4 only; M2 only), together (P4 and M2), and combined (PC1 scores of bivariate principal component analyses of P4 and M2 for each metric). Discriminant function analyses were conducted with and without a measure of size (two-dimensional surface area). When using topography only, "prosimian" P4 shape predicts diet with a success rate that is slightly higher than that of M2 shape. When absolute size is included, premolars and molars perform comparably well. Including both premolar and molar topography (separately or combined) improves classification accuracy for every analysis beyond considering either in isolation. Classification accuracy is highest when premolar and molar topography and size are included. Our findings indicate that molar teeth incompletely summarize the functional requirements of oral food breakdown for a given diet, and that the mechanism selecting for premolar form is more varied than what is expressed by molar teeth. Finally, our findings suggest that fossil P4s (in isolation or with the M2) can be used for meaningful dietary reconstruction of extinct primates.

Productivity of the eelgrass biotope and the resilience of fisher-hunter-gatherers in prehistoric Denmark

In the shallow coastal waters of the Danish archipelago, eelgrass (Zostera marina) forms extensive and extremely productive stands, which support food webs that are isotopically distinct from those based on the primary productivity of marine phytoplankton. The isotopic signatures of eelgrass and phytoplankton food webs explain much of the variation in δ13C, δ15N and δ34S values in marine vertebrate remains recovered from prehistoric coastal sites in Denmark. Isotope data from human and dog remains reflect the overwhelming importance of the eelgrass biotope to the fisher-hunter-gatherer subsistence during the Late Mesolithic Ertebølle epoch (∼7400-5800 cal BP). By recognising eelgrass and pelagic resources as isotopically distinct, we obtain more accurate diet reconstructions and dietary 14C reservoir effect corrections for Ertebølle individuals. Longstanding research issues, including technology, palaeodemography, and the resilience and sustainability of the Ertebølle economy need to be reassessed in view of the isotopic signature and productivity of the eelgrass biotope in Danish waters. Eelgrass productivity is also pertinent to comparisons between Ertebølle and Neolithic economies in Denmark, and between fisher-hunter-gatherer adaptations in Denmark and neighbouring regions, and may be key to understanding the much-discussed delay in the transition to farming.

Dietary and homeostatic controls of Zn isotopes in rats: a controlled feeding experiment and modeling approach.

The stable isotope composition of zinc (δ66Zn), which is an essential trace metal for many biological processes in vertebrates, is increasingly used in ecological, archeological, and paleontological studies to assess diet and trophic level discrimination among vertebrates. However, the limited understanding of dietary controls and isotopic fractionation processes on Zn isotope variability in animal tissues and biofluids limits precise dietary reconstructions. The current study systematically investigates the dietary effects on Zn isotope composition in consumers using a combined controlled feeding experiment and box-modeling approach. For this purpose, 21 rats were fed one of seven distinct animal- and plant-based diets and a total of 148 samples including soft and hard tissue, biofluid, and excreta samples of these individuals were measured for δ66Zn. Relatively constant Zn isotope fractionation is observed across the different dietary groups for each tissue type, implying that diet is the main factor controlling consumer tissue δ66Zn values, independent of diet composition. Furthermore, a systematic δ66Zn diet-enamel fractionation is reported for the first time, enabling diet reconstruction based on δ66Zn values from tooth enamel. In addition, we investigated the dynamics of Zn isotope variability in the body using a box-modeling approach, providing a model of Zn isotope homeostasis and inferring residence times, while also further supporting the hypothesis that δ66Zn values of vertebrate tissues are primarily determined by that of the diet. Altogether this provides a solid foundation for refined (paleo)dietary reconstruction using Zn isotopes of vertebrate tissues.

Prey size reflected in tooth wear: a comparison of two wolf populations from Sweden and Alaska.

Ingesta leaves distinct patterns on mammalian teeth during mastication. However, an unresolved challenge is how to include intraspecific variability into dietary reconstruction and the biomechanical aspects of chewing. Two extant populations of the grey wolf (Canis lupus), one from Alaska and one from Sweden, were analysed with consideration to intraspecific dietary variability related to prey size depending on geographical origin, sex and individual age as well as tooth function. Occlusal enamel facets of the upper fourth premolars, first molars and the second lower molar were analysed via three-dimensional surface texture analysis. The Swedish wolves displayed facets characterized by higher peaks and deeper, more voluminous dales, featuring an overall rougher surface than the wolves from Alaska. Compared to females, the Swedish male wolves had a slightly larger dale area and hill volume on their facets. Upper fourth premolars are smoother and had higher values in texture direction compared to upper first molars. The upper first molars were rougher than the occluding lower second molars and were characterized by larger and deeper dales. We find evidence supporting intraspecific dietary segregation, and antagonistic asymmetry in occlusal wear signatures. The data offer new insights into the roles of apex predators like the grey wolf.

Simulating taphonomic processes on teeth: The impact of sediment pressure and thermal alteration on dental microwear

Dietary reconstructions based on dental microwear methodologies may be limited due to the various taphonomic processes that affect the formation of archaeological deposits. These limitations are primarily affected by two issues: 1) taphonomic alterations occurring over dental microwear patterns which mimic dietary signals and can lead to confusion in quantifying these signals, and 2) the exclusion of teeth due to structural damage caused by taphonomic processes, resulting in a reduction of the sample size. Thus, it is necessary to understand how taphonomic processes impact teeth to avoid biases in dietary reconstructions and improve the validity of their interpretations. Under these considerations, we conducted two experiments: one involving the simulation of sediment pressure, and the other focusing on thermal alterations. A hydraulic press and a muffle furnace were used for these purposes. The results of the experiments allowed us to characterise the alterations produced by abrasion caused by sediment pressure, enabling differentiation from dietary signals (scratches, pits, and gouges) and excluding them from dental microwear analyses. However, the thermal alteration experiment showed that this process does not produce significant effects, and even carbonized teeth retain dental microwear, making them appropriate for dietary reconstructions. Additionally, a comparison of archaeological teeth from level IIIb of Teixoneres Cave (Moià, Barcelona) was conducted, confirming the inferences drawn from the experimental results. This research highlights the importance of conducting such studies to better understand the impact of taphonomic processes on dental microwear, which is crucial for accurate dietary and palaeoecological interpretations.

Dietary changes seen through the isotope analysis of the La Tène burial site of Prosmyky (Bohemia, 4th-3rd century BCE)

Dietary reconstruction using carbon and nitrogen isotopes has been applied to the La Tène population buried at Prosmyky, a large cemetery of the 4th-3rd centuries BCE in northwest Bohemia. The analysis of bone collagen from 55 individuals showed a diet that did not differ noticeably from other contemporary sites in the region. However, chronologically sensitive development in diet, with gradually increasing δ13C values, was present, signifying a growing reliance on millet for sustenance through the cemetery’s lifespan. Moreover, a rather unusual higher δ15N in individuals older than ca. 30 years of age was also observed. Possible explanations are examined, along with a comparison with other published data from the region, suggesting the influence of regionally based developments that might be linked with the societal shifts that led towards the Late La Tène period.

Temporal pattern of dental caries at the western flank of the Central Plateau of Iran, c. 2700 BCE – 1600 CE

ObjectiveTo analyze the overall frequency and inter-tooth patterns of caries in three populations from ancient cemeteries located along the western border of the Central Iranian Plateau as a means to explore whether the populations of Iran had greater access to fermentable sugars after the establishment of the great empires. MaterialsDental collections from Kafarved-Varzaneh (Early Bronze Age, MNI=66), Estark-Joshaqan (Iron Age, MNI=57), Tappeh Poustchi (Timurid and Safavid Period, MNI=34), together with comparative data from NE Syria. MethodsFrequencies of dental caries per tooth categories, location and size of carious lesions are analyzed using Smith’s Mean Measure of Divergence, Correspondence Analysis, χ2 and Kruskal-Wallis tests. ResultsThere are minimal differences in overall frequencies of carious lesions at Iranian sites, regardless of the chronology, but notable differences at Syrian sites. The inter-tooth pattern at the Iron Age cemetery in Estark appears distinctly different than the other Iranian sites and the comparative samples from Syria. ConclusionsDivergent subsistence strategies may be linked with different inter-tooth patterns since people buried at Estark were mobile herders, while the other cemeteries were used by settled farmers. SignificanceThis comprehensive research on dental caries in three chronologically diverse populations in Iran sheds light on the association between dental caries and subsistence strategies, and introduces the Smith’s Mean Measure of Divergence to explore inter-tooth carious patterns, which may prove useful to other researchers seeking to understand the relationships between subsistence, diet, and the presence of carious lesions. LimitationsThe studied sample size is relatively small and therefore its temporal/regional distribution produces low-resolution results. Suggestions for further researchMore systematic research on the patterns of dental caries is necessary to produce more fine-grained reconstructions of diet and subsistence in Iran and around the globe.

Patterns of morphological diversification are influenced by dietary evolution in a highly species-rich lizard radiation

The diversification of lineages is facilitated or constrained by the simultaneous evolution of multiple components of the phenotype that interact with each other during the course of speciation. When evolutionary radiations are adaptive, lineages proliferate via the emergence of multiple phenotypic optima that underlie diversification of species across multiple ecological niches. When radiations are non-adaptive, lineage proliferation unfolds constrained by similar (or nearly identical) correlations among traits that keep phenotypic and ecological diversity across newly emerging species within a single optimum. Nature offers very few opportunities where both types of diversification occur between closely related and highly diverse lineages. The Liolaemidae family of South American lizards offers unique such opportunities given two speciose lineages that have rapidly proliferated via adaptive (Liolaemus) and non-adaptive (Phymaturus) radiations. We analyze body shape in lizards in association with type of diet (herbivory, omnivory or carnivory). In these lizards, diet types have been suggested to be linked to body size. Our results confirm this hypothesis, with three body size optima tightly linked to all three diet types when radiation is both adaptive and non-adaptive. Diet reconstruction along their evolutionary history showed that the common ancestor of Liolaemidae was likely omnivorous, which is matched by ancestral reconstruction of body size. Phylogenetic PCA revealed that herbivorous species generally have more differentiated body shape than insectivores and omnivores. Herbivorous species have evolved larger heads, shorter hindlimbs and a small difference between forelimb and hindlimb length. In contrast, omnivores and insectivores have smaller heads and longer hindlimbs. Collectively, trophic niche plays an important role in defining body shape and size across species within lineages, and the patterns of trait–ecology correlations remain consistent when lineages have diversified via adaptive and non-adaptive radiation.

Enhanced dietary reconstruction of Korean prehistoric populations by combining δ13C and δ15N amino acids of bone collagen.

Compound specific stable isotope analysis of amino acids (CSIA-AA) is a powerful tool for determining dietary behaviors in complex environments and improving dietary reconstructions. Here, we conducted CSIA-AA on human (n = 32) and animal (n = 13) remains from two prehistoric archaeological sites (Mumun, Imdang) to assess in more detail the dietary sources consumed by prehistoric Korean populations. Results of estimated trophic position (TP) using Δ15NGlx-Phe show that the Imdang individuals consumed aquatic resources, as well as terrestrial resources. Principal component analysis (PCA) using δ13C and δ15N essential amino acid (EAA) values show that the Imdang humans closely cluster with game birds and terrestrial herbivores, whilst the Mumun humans closely cluster with C4 plants. Quantitative estimation by a Bayesian mixing model (MixSIAR) indicates that the Imdang humans derived a large proportion of their proteins from terrestrial animals and marine fish, whereas the main protein sources for the Mumun humans were C4 plants and terrestrial animals. Additionally, the comparison between the EAA and bulk isotope models shows that there is a tendency to overestimate the consumption of plant proteins when using bulk isotopic data. Our CSIA-AA approach reveals that in prehistoric Korea there were clear differences in human diets through time. This study adds to a growing body of literature that demonstrates the potential of CSIA-AA to provide more accurate estimations of protein consumption in mixed diets than previous bulk isotopic studies.

Dietary reconstruction and influencing factors of oysters cultured in a typical estuarine bay of South China

Blue carbon can be transferred from primary producers to primary consumers through oyster filter feeding. Understanding the carbon (food) sources is crucial for understanding coastal food webs and management of oyster aquaculture ecosystems. In the present study, Bayesian stable isotope mixing models (MixSIAR) were used to identify and quantify food composition within a cultured oyster ecosystem at six sites along a salinity gradient in the estuarine bay of Zhenhai (ZHB). The carbon stable isotope (δ13C) signatures of oyster Crassostrea hongkongensis ranged from −22.06 to −27.27‰, with significant spatial differences (p < 0.001), indicating variations in food resources along the salinity gradient. The primary food source for cultured oysters was suspended particle organic matter across ZHB (55.7–90.6%), with sedimentary organic matter contributing more in the mid-estuary (28.9–44.3%). Partial least squares regression (PLSR) was used to explore the effects of habitat environment and human disturbance on spatial variation in oyster diets. The results indicated that dissolved oxygen, sediment particle size, elevation, and mangrove-related landscape indices were the main factors influencing oyster diet in ZHB. The findings provide insights into the dietary composition of cultured oysters and the underlying factors in a typical shallow bay in southern China, with particular emphasis on the role of terrestrial landscape features. In addition, the findings validate PLSR as a reasonable tool for predicting the food composition of consumers in estuarine bays.

Stable Isotope Diet Reconstruction of Feral Horses on the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada, USA

Stable Isotope Diet Reconstruction of Feral Horses on the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada, USA

Can rewilding with giant tortoises increase woody habitat and limit fire across Madagascar's grasslands?

Societal Impact StatementTo better understand the impact of human settlement on vegetation distribution and disturbance regimes in Madagascar, the 2021 Malagasy Grassy Biomes Workshop called for an examination of the role of extinct megafauna in determining the historic distribution of habitat mosaics across regions that are today dominated by vast treeless grasslands. A systematic literature review facilitated the reconstruction and evaluation of giant tortoise habitat, feeding habitats, diets and Aldabrachelys tortoise impacts on disturbance regimes. In conclusion, reintroduction of mixed‐feeding Aldabrachelys (the diets of which were often dominated by C3 woody material, but never by C4 grasses, across its range), will likely impact plant species composition, select a tree‐rich habitat mosaic, reduce fire frequency, re‐establish lost ecological functions and improve landscape productivity at a range of scales, including rangeland palatability, benefitting both biodiversity and human wellbeing.SummaryGrasslands with little tree cover today comprise 80% of Madagascar's habitat. Determining their extent at human settlement can guide ecological restoration and enhance human well‐being, so the 2021 Malagasy Grassy Biomes Workshop identified the role of extinct megafauna in determining habitat as a critical knowledge gap. Using a systematic literature review, combined with extracted datasets, we address this, examining anticipated habitat selection by giant tortoises following reintroduction to Madagascar (where the Aldabran giant tortoise, Aldabrachelys gigantea, provides ecological functions lost when A. abrupta and A. grandidieri went extinct). When comparing current and historical tortoise selection of habitat across the Mascarenes and Aldabra with contemporary Malagasy habitat, areas in Madagascar where giant tortoises historically ranged, today have a significantly different habitat composition to the forested habitat that supported giant tortoises on other islands. Dietary 13C isotope ratios show that Malagasy Aldabrachelys and Mascarene tortoises were mixed feeders, with diets often dominated by C3 woody intake, but never by C4 grasses. Across systems, giant tortoises required and selected, tree‐rich habitat mosaics, different to current pastoralist fire‐selected Malagasy grasslands characterized by sparse tree cover. Furthermore, Aldabran Aldabrachelys tortoise turf, restricted to small areas (large tracts of unshaded vegetation present physiological challenges to Aldabrachelys' survival), is compositionally different to Malagasy and African obligate C4 grazing lawns. Ecological, palaeoecological, geomorphological and molecular evidence support a lost Malagasy habitat mosaic where hippo and tortoise diets were C3‐dominated, because they inhabited closed‐canopy systems, with abutting open‐canopy areas harbouring endemic‐rich, C4 grassy understories and limited grasslands. The review suggests that rewilding with A. gigantea will help restore ecological functions, productivity and landscape‐scale degradation lost through cattle‐based pastoralism, re‐establish tree‐rich habitat mosaics, and mitigate against frequent bushfires, benefiting biodiversity and humans at multiple scales.

Millet agriculture and social complexity in the Central Plains of the Neolithic (9000-5000 BP): Isotopic reconstruction of human diet from the Shanggangyang site in China

The core area of the Central Plains is one of the crucial regions for the origin of Chinese civilization, and the settlement site cluster in the mid-late Yangshao period (6000-5000 BP) provides a unique opportunity to investigate the human dietary pattern in the Central Plains for the origin of Chinese civilization. However, previous studies have not yet been able to adequately explain why the Central Plains has developed into an area in which the process of social complexity has accelerated significantly and the emergence of early Chinese civilization based on the development of millet agriculture in the core area of the Central Plains in the mid-late Yangshao period. In this case study, stable isotope analysis of the human bone collagen from the Shanggangyang site was conducted. The isotopic data showed that the majority of the Shanggangyang inhabitants (−8.0 ± 0.7‰, 9.0 ± 0.8‰, n = 24) were on a C4 millet-based diet, while the M13 individuals (−15.9 ± 0.1‰, 6.5 ± 0.1‰, n = 2) was on a C3 and C4 mixed diet. Furthermore, temporal investigations of the development of millet agriculture from isotopic perspective during the middle to late Neolithic period (9000-5000 BP) in the Central Plains comprehensively and explicitly revealed that millet agriculture developed and matured, and became the predominant subsistence economy in the mid-late Yangshao period (6000-5000 BP). This prosperous subsistence economy based on millet farming of the mid-late Yangshao period not only played an important role in generally accelerating the process of social complexity in the Central Plains, but also provided a substantial economic foundation for the emergence of early Chinese civilization in the core area of the Central Plains.

Dietary reconstruction based on stable isotopes and stature at Torre de Palma, a Late Roman/Late Antiquity site in southern Portugal

Dietary reconstruction based on stable isotopes and stature at Torre de Palma, a Late Roman/Late Antiquity site in southern Portugal

Multi-purpose pots: Reconstructing early farmer behaviour at Lydenburg Heads site, South Africa, using organic residue analysis

About 2000 years ago, Bantu-speaking people introduced an agro-pastoral lifeway into southern Africa and lived in northern and eastern lowland parts of the region by 700 CE. Also defined as the ‘southern African Iron Age’, pottery is the most common and diagnostic artefact category. The soil chemistry of several farming sites resulted in poor faunal preservation and especially within Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, the possibilities for dietary reconstructions based on bone assemblages is very limited. Furthermore, the majority of ceramic research on early farming communities (ca. 200–900 CE) has focused on typology and ethnoarchaeological interpretations. This study represents the first application of Organic Residue Analysis (ORA) applied to southern African early farming pottery to gain a deeper understanding of past human behaviour and subsistence patterns. We investigate the potential and evaluate future prospects of applying this method to southern African early farming pottery. A combined lipid biomarker (GC-MS) and compound specific isotope approach (GC-C-IRMS) was applied to pottery sherds (n = 40) from the Lydenburg Heads site (LHS), dating to the 7th century CE (Mzonjani facies) and 9th to 11th centuries CE (Doornkop facies), to test for lipid preservation, trace possible vessel use and dietary changes through time and embed the research data within the faunal and botanical record available. Our study provides first evidence for the processing of dairy products by early farmers in southern Africa. Both facies imply multi-purpose functionality of the ceramics tested, demonstrated by the mixing of animal fats and plant oils. The obtained ORA data from LHS confirms the processing of ruminant carcass fats within both occupation facies, likely representing domestic animal fats, as well as the processing of wild non-ruminant carcass fats within the earlier Mzonjani facies. The identification of ricinoleic acid in two vessels of the Doornkop facies, provides evidence for potential medicinal use. Preliminary data also indicate that dung could have been involved in different forms of pottery sealing and/or mending during both occupation facies. In this study, we begin to explore biomolecular evidence for dietary choices made by early farmers in southern Africa, shedding light on previously unexplored key products.