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Isotopic evidence for age‐related variation in diet from Isola Sacra, Italy
Author(s) -
Prowse Tracy L.,
Schwarcz Henry P.,
Saunders Shelley R.,
Macchiarelli Roberto,
Bondioli Luca
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
american journal of physical anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1096-8644
pISSN - 0002-9483
DOI - 10.1002/ajpa.20094
Subject(s) - age groups , olive oil , demography , biology , food science , sociology
This study examines collagen (N = 105) and apatite (N = 65) data from an Imperial Roman skeletal sample from the necropolis of Isola Sacra (Rome, Italy). This paper explores correlations between the isotopic composition of bone samples and the inferred age and sex of these individuals (aged 5–45+ years). The collagen of males, and older individuals in general, was significantly enriched in 15 N but not 13 C. Bone carbonate was somewhat depleted in 13 C in some older individuals, suggesting increased consumption of olive oil and possibly wine. Subadults (>5 years) in the sample appear to have consumed an almost exclusively terrestrial diet. This study demonstrates a clear trend in dietary patterns between adult age groups, as well as between adults and children within a population. Am J Phys Anthropol 128:2‐13, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.