Title: Stable isotope evidence for medieval diet in urban and rural northern Estonia
Abstract: Results of stable carbon, nitrogen and sulphur isotope analyses of human bone collagen (n = 59) from two medieval (12-16th century) populations in coastal northern Estonia are presented. Statistically significant differences between δ15N and δ34S values from the St Barbara cemetery in the hanseatic town of Tallinn (Reval) and the rural village cemetery of Kaberla suggest that there were likely real differences between urban and rural diets, either in terms of access to certain types of foods or due to different practices regarding farming and food production. While diet at both locations was likely dominated by C3 terrestrial resources, relatively high δ15N values suggest a significant reliance on higher trophic level protein (including fish). However, because of brackish conditions prevalent in the Baltic Sea, local marine, freshwater and terrestrial δ13C and δ34S isotopic ranges in coastal northern Estonia may not be distinct enough to allow for a more detailed palaeodietary reconstruction.
Publication Year: 2019
Publication Date: 2019-08-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 18
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