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Continuity and individuality in Medieval Hereford, England: A stable isotope approach to bulk bone and incremental dentine

Halldórsdóttir, H.H; Rogers, B; Di Renno, F.A; Müldner, G.; Gröcke, D.R; Barnicle, E; Chidimuroe, B; Evans, M; Morley, R; Neff, M; Sharp, C; Simpson, A; Boucher, A; Montgomery, J

Continuity and individuality in Medieval Hereford, England: A stable isotope approach to bulk bone and incremental dentine Thumbnail


Authors

H.H Halldórsdóttir

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Bryony Rogers bryony.l.rogers@durham.ac.uk
PGR Student Doctor of Philosophy

F.A Di Renno

G. Müldner

D.R Gröcke

E Barnicle

B Chidimuroe

M Evans

R Morley

M Neff

C Sharp

A Simpson

A Boucher



Abstract

In this study, bulk bone collagen carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope data from 49 individuals, recovered from two Medieval burial grounds in Hereford, England, are coupled with incremental dentine data from five individuals with high δ15N bone values who survived into old age, to see whether the high δ15N values were consistent throughout their childhood and adolescence. There are statistically insignificant differences between mean bone δ13C and δ15N values from the two Hereford populations, exhumed at Cathedral Close and St. Guthlac's Priory, despite temporal and demographic differences (St Guthlac's mean: δ13C −19.4 ± 0.5‰ and δ15N 10.9 ± 1.2‰; Hereford Cathedral mean: δ13C −19.6 ± 0.4‰ and δ15N 10.4 ± 0.9‰, 1σ). In comparison to other contemporary urban populations, the Hereford individuals present significantly lower but more variable δ15N values, suggesting a diet low in protein from high trophic level foods such as meat and milk, possibly the result of differing social status or geographic factors. The approximately 23-year long incremental dentine profiles all show considerable fluctuation in stable isotope values during childhood and adolescence for all individuals until around age 20, suggesting possible influence by physiological processes related to growth and development.

Citation

Halldórsdóttir, H., Rogers, B., Di Renno, F., Müldner, G., Gröcke, D., Barnicle, E., …Montgomery, J. (2019). Continuity and individuality in Medieval Hereford, England: A stable isotope approach to bulk bone and incremental dentine. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 23, 800-809. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2018.12.006

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Dec 2, 2018
Online Publication Date Dec 12, 2018
Publication Date Feb 28, 2019
Deposit Date Dec 12, 2018
Publicly Available Date Dec 12, 2019
Journal Journal of archaeological science, reports.
Print ISSN 2352-409X
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 23
Pages 800-809
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2018.12.006

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