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Isotopic investigation of diet and residential mobility in the Neolithic of the Lower Rhine Basin.

Smits, E. and Millard, A. R. and Nowell, G. M. and Pearson, D.G. (2010) 'Isotopic investigation of diet and residential mobility in the Neolithic of the Lower Rhine Basin.', European journal of archaeology., 13 (1). pp. 5-31.

Abstract

Multiple isotopic systems (C, N, O, S, Sr, Pb) are applied to investigate diet and mobility amongst the Middle Neolithic populations at Schipluiden and Swifterbant (Netherlands). A review of carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses of European Mesolithic and Neolithic populations shows a shift in diet from the Mesolithic to the Neolithic, but also great variety in Neolithic diets, several of which incorporate fish. At Swifterbant (c.4300—4000 BC) the population had a diet largely based on terrestrial and freshwater resources, despite proximity to tidal waters. Only one individual (of 10) showed evidence for migration. In contrast at Schipluiden (c.3600—3400 BC) there were migrants who had a diet lower in marine resources than those without evidence for migration. The faunal spectrum and isotopic similarities with sites in the Iron Gates Gorge suggest that sturgeon may have been important. There is some evidence that migrants at Schipluiden were not accorded the formal burial given to locally born people.

Item Type:Article
Full text:(AM) Accepted Manuscript
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Status:Peer-reviewed
Publisher Web site:http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1461957109355040
Publisher statement:The final definitive version of this article has been published in the journal European journal of archaeology 13/1, 2010 Copyright © 2010 SAGE Publications at the European journal of archaeology page: http://eja.sagepub.com/ on SAGE Journals Online: http://online.sagepub.com/
Date accepted:No date available
Date deposited:24 May 2011
Date of first online publication:April 2010
Date first made open access:No date available

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