TY - JOUR
T1 - Understanding Final Neolithic communities in south-eastern Poland
T2 - New insights on diet and mobility from isotopic data
AU - Szczepanek, Anita
AU - Belka, Zdzislaw
AU - Jarosz, Paweł
AU - Pospieszny, Łukasz
AU - Dopieralska, Jolanta
AU - Frei, Karin M.
AU - Rauba-Bukowska, Anna
AU - Werens, Karolina
AU - Górski, Jacek
AU - Hozer, Monika
AU - Mazurek, Mirosław
AU - Włodarczak, Piotr
PY - 2018/12/1
Y1 - 2018/12/1
N2 - 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 87 Sr/ 86 Sr 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 C 3 -based terrestrial plant and animal resources, in which plant food dominated. In both regions, there were no significant sex differences in dietary intakes. Higher δ 15 N coll values of younger infants presumably reflect the effect of weaning.
AB - 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 87 Sr/ 86 Sr 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 C 3 -based terrestrial plant and animal resources, in which plant food dominated. In both regions, there were no significant sex differences in dietary intakes. Higher δ 15 N coll values of younger infants presumably reflect the effect of weaning.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85058791465&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0207748
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0207748
M3 - Article (Academic Journal)
C2 - 30566432
AN - SCOPUS:85058791465
SN - 1932-6203
VL - 13
JO - PLoS ONE
JF - PLoS ONE
IS - 12
M1 - e0207748
ER -