Dukes, elites, and commoners: dietary reconstruction of the early medieval population of Bohemia (9th–11th Century AD, Czech Republic)

Kaupová, Sylva Drtikolová; Velemínský, Petr; Stránská, Petra; Bravermanová, Milena; Frolíková, Drahomíra; Tomková, Kateřina; Frolík, Ján

doi:10.1007/s12520-018-0640-8

Cited by 17 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…If possible, historical DNA is also analysed using methods of identification genetics enabling the classification of skeletal remains into family lines and the determination of family relationships between studied individuals (for instance, Bravermanová et al 2018). The results of these new investigations are in process and continuously published (Frolík, Kaupová 2016;Votrubova et al 2017;Kaupová et al 2018;Saunders et al 2019).…”

Section: Anthropological Studymentioning

confidence: 95%

The Fate of the Remains and Funerary Equipment of Czech Rulers and Their Family Members

Bravermanová

Březinová

2020

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Prague Castle was the most important burial site of the Czech rulers and their relatives. The graves are located in the Church of the Virgin Mary, in St. George Church and Convent, and, in the greatest numbers in the St. Vitus Cathedral. Reliquary tombs of the most important Czech patron saints are also located at Prague Castle – in St. George Basilica, in St. Vitus Cathedral and in All Saints Church. We also know the graves of 12 Prague bishops that are located in the St. Vitus Cathedral. The majority of the aforementioned graves have been opened several times in the past for a variety of reasons, that caused various problems, the most serious of which involved the confusion of relics. The first systematic anthropological investigations were conducted at the beginning of the 20th century. The remains of nearly all historical personalities buried at Prague Castle were available for another anthropological study conducted in the 1960s. Currently, the research continues with modern nature science analyzes. In the past, removed grave goods did not receive proper care for the most part, mainly due to a lack of understanding as to what constituted correct procedures for handling artefacts deposited for years in the unsuitable conditions of graves and tombs. The grave goods themselves were often restored in an inappropriate manner. The restoration situation improved significantly after the establishment of restoration and conservation workshops in 2000. The opening of graves is problematic and, from an ethical point of view, should be performer only to a very limited extent. Necessary construction work is a common reason for disruption, and in this case remains should be treated with respect. And if grave goods are removed, they must be cared for in a proper manner, as these artefacts are often irreplaceable heritage whose scientific study is a legitimate pursuit. The mere lust for knowledge, often connected with efforts to generate sensation, does not entitle us to disturb the resting place of our ancestors with ill-considered interventions.

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Section: Anthropological Studymentioning

confidence: 95%

The Fate of the Remains and Funerary Equipment of Czech Rulers and Their Family Members

Bravermanová

Březinová

2020

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“…People with wealth and/or power would be expected to eat more meat than less-privileged ones (Montanari 2008). This point is the base of numerous studies on the impact of socio-economic stratification on diet in the medieval isotopic literature (e.g., Lightfoot et al 2012;Reitsema and Vercellotti 2012;Iacumin et al 2014;Alexander et al 2015;Miclon et al 2017;Kaupová et al 2018). Hoever it seems that at the beginning of the medieval period, access to animal products (including meat) was less strictly linked to wealth (Montanari 1995;Gautier 2010).…”

Section: Transformation Of Human Isotopic Signal Over Timementioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of religious identity and socio-economic status on diet over time, an example from medieval France

Mion

Herrscher

Gilles

et al. 2018

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

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In Southern France as in other parts of Europe, significant changes occurred in settlement patterns between the end of Antiquity and the beginning of the Middle Ages. Small communities gathered to form, by the tenth century, villages organized around a church. This development was the result of a new social and agrarian organization. Its impact on lifestyles and, more precisely, on diet is still poorly understood. The analysis of carbon and nitrogen isotopes in bone collagen from the inhabitants of the well-preserved medieval rural site Missignac-Saint Gilles le Vieux (fifth to thirteenth centuries, Gard, France) provides insight into their dietary practices and enables a discussion about its transformation over time. A sample of 152 adult individuals dated from 675 to 1175 AD (75 females, 77 males) and 75 specimens from 16 non-human species were analyzed. Results show the exploitation of freshwater, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems as well as various breeding practices specific to each species. The use of both C 4 and halophyte plants for feeding domestic animals was also observed. Concerning human dietary practices, a change seemed to occur at the beginning of the tenth century with an increase of δ 15 N values and a decrease of δ 13 C values. This corresponds to the introduction of a significant amount of freshwater resources into the diet and could be related to the evolution of the Catholic doctrine. A concomitant diversification of access to individual food resources was also observed, probably linked to the increased diversity of practice inside a population otherwise perceived as one community.

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“…V některých populacích byl pozorován i socio-ekonomický gradient v konzumaci prosa. Změny v konzumaci ryb pak pravděpodobně odrážejí rostoucí důraz na dodržování postních regulí (Hakenbeck et al 2010;Kaupová et al 2019;Müldner -Richards 2007). Otázky tohoto typu jsme si tedy kladli i při analýze souboru z Přezletic, přičemž izotopové hodnoty bylo možné srovnávat s relativně rozsáhlým souborem z dalších lokalit raně středověkých Čech (Kaupová a kol.…”

Section: Izotopová Analýzaunclassified

Raně středověké pohřebiště v Přezleticích (okr. Praha-východ) / Early Medieval Burial Ground in Přezletice (Prague-East District)

Koštová¹,

Kapustka²,

Zazvonilová³

et al. 2022

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The text presents the results of the excavation of the early medieval burial ground, where more than 60 burials and one circular feature were identified. The find situation, the anthropological condition of remains and archaeological finds are described, and ecofacts are also analysed. Radiocarbon dating and nitrogen and carbon isotope analysis were conducted on selected specimens. The find assemblage corresponds to the location of the burial ground away from an elite centre, thus making it a good example of a common burial ground from the turn of the 10th and 11th centuries. Interesting elements were identified concerning how the deceased were handled as well as an anthropological description of the local population. The key advance is a comparison of the possibilities of dating the burial ground on the basis of traditional methods (based on a typological comparison of artefacts) and dating using the radiocarbon method, which enabled a significant refinement of the existing notion of the succession and age of activities at the studied site. It is reasonable to assume that the application of this approach at other sites would help clarify the data.

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Dukes, elites, and commoners: dietary reconstruction of the early medieval population of Bohemia (9th–11th Century AD, Czech Republic)

Cited by 17 publications

References 65 publications

The Fate of the Remains and Funerary Equipment of Czech Rulers and Their Family Members

The Fate of the Remains and Funerary Equipment of Czech Rulers and Their Family Members

The influence of religious identity and socio-economic status on diet over time, an example from medieval France

Raně středověké pohřebiště v Přezleticích (okr. Praha-východ) / Early Medieval Burial Ground in Přezletice (Prague-East District)

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