Beyond the grave: Variability in Neolithic diets in Southern Germany?

Claudia Dürrwächter; Oliver E. Craig; Matthew J. Collins; Joachim Burger; Kurt W. Alt

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2005.06.009

Beyond the grave: Variability in Neolithic diets in Southern Germany?

Claudia Dürrwächter^*, Oliver E. Craig, Matthew J. Collins, Joachim Burger, Kurt W. Alt

^*Corresponding author for this work

83 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses were undertaken on human and faunal remains from two Neolithic sites in Southern Germany; the LBK settlement at Herxheim and the middle Neolithic cemetery at Trebur. Stable isotope data were used to reconstruct the diets of individuals buried at these sites and to look at dietary variation between groups classified by their sex, age, grave goods and cultural affiliation. Overall there was surprisingly little variation in the diet between the groups, as described by the stable isotope analysis, despite significant differences in the composition of grave goods. Also surprising, considering the archaeological evidence for extensive grain cultivation in this region during the Neolithic, was that the majority of individuals had δ¹⁵N values consistent with the consumption of significant amounts of animal protein.

Original language	English
Journal	Journal of Archaeological Science
Volume	33
Issue number	1
Pages (from-to)	39-48
Number of pages	10
ISSN	0305-4403
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2005.06.009
Publication status	Published - Jan 2006

Keywords

Carbon
Neolithic
Nitrogen
Palaeodiet
Southern Germany
Stable isotopes

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10.1016/j.jas.2005.06.009

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title = "Beyond the grave: Variability in Neolithic diets in Southern Germany?",

abstract = "Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses were undertaken on human and faunal remains from two Neolithic sites in Southern Germany; the LBK settlement at Herxheim and the middle Neolithic cemetery at Trebur. Stable isotope data were used to reconstruct the diets of individuals buried at these sites and to look at dietary variation between groups classified by their sex, age, grave goods and cultural affiliation. Overall there was surprisingly little variation in the diet between the groups, as described by the stable isotope analysis, despite significant differences in the composition of grave goods. Also surprising, considering the archaeological evidence for extensive grain cultivation in this region during the Neolithic, was that the majority of individuals had δ15N values consistent with the consumption of significant amounts of animal protein.",

keywords = "Carbon, Neolithic, Nitrogen, Palaeodiet, Southern Germany, Stable isotopes",

author = "Claudia D{\"u}rrw{\"a}chter and Craig, {Oliver E.} and Collins, {Matthew J.} and Joachim Burger and Alt, {Kurt W.}",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Beyond the grave

T2 - Variability in Neolithic diets in Southern Germany?

AU - Dürrwächter, Claudia

AU - Craig, Oliver E.

AU - Collins, Matthew J.

AU - Burger, Joachim

AU - Alt, Kurt W.

PY - 2006/1

Y1 - 2006/1

N2 - Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses were undertaken on human and faunal remains from two Neolithic sites in Southern Germany; the LBK settlement at Herxheim and the middle Neolithic cemetery at Trebur. Stable isotope data were used to reconstruct the diets of individuals buried at these sites and to look at dietary variation between groups classified by their sex, age, grave goods and cultural affiliation. Overall there was surprisingly little variation in the diet between the groups, as described by the stable isotope analysis, despite significant differences in the composition of grave goods. Also surprising, considering the archaeological evidence for extensive grain cultivation in this region during the Neolithic, was that the majority of individuals had δ15N values consistent with the consumption of significant amounts of animal protein.

AB - Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses were undertaken on human and faunal remains from two Neolithic sites in Southern Germany; the LBK settlement at Herxheim and the middle Neolithic cemetery at Trebur. Stable isotope data were used to reconstruct the diets of individuals buried at these sites and to look at dietary variation between groups classified by their sex, age, grave goods and cultural affiliation. Overall there was surprisingly little variation in the diet between the groups, as described by the stable isotope analysis, despite significant differences in the composition of grave goods. Also surprising, considering the archaeological evidence for extensive grain cultivation in this region during the Neolithic, was that the majority of individuals had δ15N values consistent with the consumption of significant amounts of animal protein.

KW - Carbon

KW - Neolithic

KW - Nitrogen

KW - Palaeodiet

KW - Southern Germany

KW - Stable isotopes

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DO - 10.1016/j.jas.2005.06.009

M3 - Journal article

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SP - 39

EP - 48

JO - Journal of Archaeological Science

JF - Journal of Archaeological Science

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ER -

Beyond the grave: Variability in Neolithic diets in Southern Germany?

Abstract

Keywords

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