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Stable isotope evidence for increasing dietary breadth in the European mid-Upper Paleolithic

Richards, M.P.; Pettitt, P.B.; Stiner, M.C.; Trinkaus, E.

Authors

M.P. Richards

P.B. Pettitt

M.C. Stiner

E. Trinkaus



Abstract

New carbon and nitrogen stable isotope values for human remains dating to the mid-Upper Paleolithic in Europe indicate significant amounts of aquatic (fish, mollusks, and/or birds) foods in some of their diets. Most of this evidence points to exploitation of inland freshwater aquatic resources in particular. By contrast, European Neandertal collagen carbon and nitrogen stable isotope values do not indicate significant use of inland aquatic foods but instead show that they obtained the majority of their protein from terrestrial herbivores. In agreement with recent zooarcheological analyses, the isotope results indicate shifts toward a more broad-spectrum subsistence economy in inland Europe by the mid-Upper Paleolithic period, probably associated with significant population increases.

Citation

Richards, M., Pettitt, P., Stiner, M., & Trinkaus, E. (2001). Stable isotope evidence for increasing dietary breadth in the European mid-Upper Paleolithic. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 98(11), 6528-6532. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.111155298

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date May 1, 2001
Deposit Date Apr 7, 2009
Journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Print ISSN 0027-8424
Electronic ISSN 1091-6490
Publisher National Academy of Sciences
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 98
Issue 11
Pages 6528-6532
DOI https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.111155298
Publisher URL http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/98/11/6528