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Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope inter‐ and intra‐individual dietary reconstruction from the late 14th to early 18th century site of Alytus, Lithuania
Author(s) -
Whitmore Katie M.,
Dupras Tosha L.,
Williams Lana J.,
Skipitytė Raminta,
Schultz John J.,
Jankauskas Rimantas
Publication year - 2019
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.23742
Subject(s) - isotope analysis , isotopes of nitrogen , δ13c , elite , homogeneous , lithuanian , demography , stable isotope ratio , geography , nitrogen , chemistry , biology , ecology , sociology , political science , linguistics , physics , philosophy , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , politics , law , thermodynamics
Objectives The Baltic region, particularly Lithuania, was a politically vibrant area of Eastern Europe during the medieval and early modern period. To better understand the diet of Lithuanians during the late 14th to early 18th century, we examine stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios from bone and dentin samples from the site of Alytus. We investigate possible dietary differences based on sex, age, and religious practice, as well as dietary changes throughout an individual's lifetime, within the broader European milieu. Materials and methods Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis was conducted on bone ( n = 35) and dentin ( n = 38) collagen samples from a total of 39 individuals buried in the cemetery at Alytus (late 14th to early 18th centuries). Results Results indicate individuals at Alytus consumed a C 3 terrestrial based diet. The δ 13 C and δ 15 N values are not significantly different between bone and dentin, and did not vary by sex. Discussion The diet at Alytus was homogeneous between males and females and between tissue types. The lack of evidence indicating substantial consumption of fish is unexpected given widespread Catholic fasting practices and marine resource trade throughout Europe. Comparisons with other populations indicate that individuals from Alytus differ in diet from contemporaneous Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth elites. Comparison of the diets of non‐elite individuals in the Eastern Baltic region also reveals dietary variability.