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Childhood “stress” and stable isotope life histories in Transylvania
Author(s) -
Crowder Kayla D.,
Montgomery Janet,
Gröcke Darren R.,
Filipek Kori L.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
international journal of osteoarchaeology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1099-1212
pISSN - 1047-482X
DOI - 10.1002/oa.2760
Subject(s) - isotope analysis , isotopes of nitrogen , population , stable isotope ratio , δ13c , δ15n , weaning , isotope , isotopes of carbon , nitrogen , zoology , biology , chemistry , medicine , ecology , total organic carbon , environmental health , physics , quantum mechanics , organic chemistry
Aims and Objectives Macroscopic skeletal analysis and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis were employed to examine the relationship between skeletal “stress” lesions and changes in the isotopic life history profiles of six nonadults from the Gepid population buried at the Archiud “Hânsuri” Cemetery (4th–7th centuries AD). Materials and Methods The Gepids were a migratory barbarian population in the Carpathian Mountain basin of Transylvania, Romania. Macroscopic skeletal analysis was conducted on 32 individuals, and of those, six nonadults were selected for stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of incrementally sampled dentine. Results Macroscopic skeletal analyses revealed 47% of the analysed population displayed evidence of childhood stress. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ranges were −17.7‰ to −11.8‰ for δ 13 C and 9.4‰ to 15.1‰ for δ 15 N. Discussion The overall dietary profile indicates a mixed terrestrial diet (C 3 /C 4 ) with increased consumption of C 4 plants during adolescence. The six nonadults appear to have been breastfed from 1 to 6 months and weaned by 3 years of age. High δ 15 N values seen in pre‐natal and post‐natal increments may suggest a level of nutritional/physiological stress during gestation and during the transitions from umbilical nutrients, breastmilk, and weaning foods. Although limited by the small sample size, this study supports the link between elevated δ 15 N values and nutritional stress and the relationship and timing of skeletal lesions with changes in the isotope profiles and was among the first to combine palaeopathological analyses and incremental stable isotope analyses on the Transylvania Gepids.