Palaeodiet of Mesolithic and Neolithic populations of Meuse Basin (Belgium): evidence from stable isotopes |
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| Institution: | 1. HERCULES Laboratory, University of Évora, Largo Marquês de Marialva 8, 7000-809 Évora, Portugal;2. Research Center in Archaeology, Arts and Heritage Sciences, University of Coimbra, Palácio de Sub-Ripas, 3000-395 Coimbra, Portugal;3. Department of History, Archaeology and Arts, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Coimbra, Largo da Porta Férrea, 3004-530 Coimbra, Portugal;4. Regional Directorate of Culture of Alentejo, Rua de Burgos 5, 7000-863 Évora, Portugal;5. Research Centre for Anthropology and Health (CIAS), University of Coimbra, Apartado 3046, 3001-401 Coimbra, Portugal;6. Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal;7. School of Technology Sciences, Department of Biology, University of Évora, Apartado 94, 7002-554 Évora, Portugal;8. Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal;9. Geobiotec, Department of Geosciences, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal;10. Institute Dom Luiz, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;11. School of Technology Sciences, Department of Chemistry, University of Évora, Rua Romão Ramalho 59, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal;1. Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, 04103 Leipzig, Germany;2. Department of Archaeology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland AB24 3UF, United Kingdom |
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| Abstract: | The human diet was investigated using the carbon and nitrogen isotopic signatures of 93 Mesolithic and Neolithic specimens (∼10,000–2000 BC) from the Meuse Basin (Belgium). During the Ancient Mesolithic period (∼9300–8000 BC), the environment was generally open and the main dietary protein was provided by hunted terrestrial mammals, with the possible addition of freshwater resources. Human remains are not available in the Meuse Basin from around 8000 BC to 4300 BC, thus preventing the study of the Mesolithic-Neolithic dietary transition in this region. Throughout the Middle Neolithic (∼4300–3000 BC), hunting was more difficult and less productive due to a densely forested environment. The contribution of freshwater resources to the diet increased, with the remaining proteins provided by terrestrial wild and/or domestic mammals, indicating that non-agricultural resources were not eliminated in this region during the Middle Neolithic period. The contribution of freshwater resources seems negligible in the Middle/Late and Late Neolithic periods (∼3300–1700 BC), with isotopic results revealing a diet composed of agricultural products. The δ15N values of infants are compatible with a weaning age at around 2 years. This study documents the dietary changes that occurred in Belgium during the first part of the Holocene, and reveals the subtle dietary distinction between wild and domestic terrestrial resources and freshwater resources. |
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