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The Middle Byzantine menu: Palaeodietary information from isotopic analysis of humans and fauna from Kastella, Crete

Bourbou, C.; Richards, M.P.

Authors

C. Bourbou

M.P. Richards



Abstract

We report here on the measurements of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes of bone collagen from the Middle Byzantine site of Kastella, in the city of Heraklion, on the island of Crete, Greece. The data derived from the analysis suggest a diet based primarily on terrestrial, C3 protein, probably from animal sources, with the inclusion of some marine protein. The adult diet at this site is relatively uniform, with no detectable differences between average isotopic values for males and females. We also found that bone collagen 15N values for a small number of juveniles decreased to adult levels after the age of two years, indicating that weaning occurred at or before this age.

Citation

Bourbou, C., & Richards, M. (2007). The Middle Byzantine menu: Palaeodietary information from isotopic analysis of humans and fauna from Kastella, Crete. International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, 17(1), 63-72. https://doi.org/10.1002/oa.855

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jan 1, 2007
Deposit Date Jul 14, 2009
Journal International Journal of Osteoarchaeology
Print ISSN 1047-482X
Electronic ISSN 1099-1212
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 17
Issue 1
Pages 63-72
DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/oa.855
Keywords Stable isotopes, 13C, 15N, Palaeodiet, Middle Byzantine, Weaning, Greece.

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