Multidisciplinary investigations of the diets of two post-medieval populations from London using stable isotopes and microdebris analysis

Bleasdale, Madeleine; Ponce, Paola; Radini, Anita; Wilson, A. S.; Doherty, Sean; Daley, Patrick; Brown, Chloë; Spindler, Luke; Sibun, Lucy; Speller, Camilla; Alexander, Michelle

doi:10.1007/s12520-019-00910-8

Cited by 12 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 111 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…These values are somewhat elevated in comparison with what might be expected for an entirely C 3 terrestrial diet. For example, the mean/median δ 13 C and δ 15 N values are around 2–3‰ and 5–7‰ higher respectively, than those of the cattle, sheep, and pig from the post‐Medieval sites of Queen's Chapel of the Savoy and Prescot Street (Bleasdale et al, ). (Figure , Table ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Human δ 15 N and δ 13 C values from the Chichester assemblage plotted with the mean faunal values from Queen's Chapel of the Savoy (c. AD 1510–1854) and Prescot Street and Beverley (16–19th century AD) (East Riding of Yorkshire (Bleasdale et al, ; Müldner & Richards, ). All means ± 1 SD …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As there is no baseline isotope data available for local contemporary marine and terrestrial fauna, it is not possible to provide quantitative estimates of the proportion of these different resources in the diet. However, if a trophic enrichment in δ 13 C of 1‰ is assumed, then the end point of an entirely C 3 terrestrial diet can be taken to be c. −19‰ based on the most enriched terrestrial faunal values from the post‐Medieval sites of Queen's Chapel of the Savoy (c. AD 1510–1854) and Prescot Street (16–19th century AD) (Bleasdale et al, ). Carbon isotope values above this threshold would therefore likely indicate a marine contribution to the individual's diet.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Instead, this study relies on faunal baselines established from two previous studies (Table ). The terrestrial faunal baseline comes from the post‐Medieval sites of Queen's Chapel of the Savoy (c. AD 1510–1854) and Prescot Street (16–19th century AD) (Bleasdale et al, ). As no marine or freshwater baselines were available for the post‐Medieval period we use data from the Medieval site of Beverley (East Riding of Yorkshire), where marine and freshwater fish including eel, herring, flatfish, cyprinids, pike, ray, and whiting were sampled (Müldner & Richards, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Stable isotope studies have been widely used to explore Medieval and post‐Medieval diet. These have focused on diet changes through time (Müldner & Richards, ; Richards, Fuller, & Molleson, ), weaning (Fuller, Richards, & Mays, ; Richards, Mays, & Fuller, ), status‐based variation (Kjellström, Storå, Possnert, & Linderholm, ; Mays, ; Müldner & Richards, ; Müldner & Richards, ; Quintelier et al, ; Reitsema & Vercellotti, ), and sex‐based variation (Bleasdale et al, ; Kjellström et al, ; Müldner & Richards, ; Quintelier et al, ; Reitsema & Vercellotti, ). In general, the data indicate an increase in marine contribution to the diet in the Medieval and post‐Medieval periods (Müldner & Richards, ; Richards et al, ) as well as sex and status‐based differences (Quintelier et al, ; Reitsema & Vercellotti, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Socioeconomic differences in diet: An isotopic examination of post‐Medieval Chichester, West Sussex

Dhaliwal

Rando

Reade

et al. 2019

American J Phys Anthropol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objectives Historical evidence suggests that social hierarchy pervaded all aspects of society in post‐Medieval England. This study uses stable isotope analysis to explore the extent to which socioeconomic status and sex affected the dietary habits of the inhabitants of post‐Medieval Chichester. Materials and Methods Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios were measured on 40 human burials from the post‐Medieval site of St. Michael's Litten (Chichester, West Sussex, England). Samples were selected from three burial types that denoted differing socioeconomic status with roughly equal numbers of males and females: tomb burials (n = 13) for high‐status; single coffin burials (n = 14) for middle‐status; and shroud burials (n = 13) for low‐status individuals. Results The data showed a largely terrestrial diet with the possibility of some inclusion of marine resources. The isotope results indicate significant variation in the consumption of terrestrial meat (and marine protein) between high‐status tomb burials and coffin and shroud burials, showing that socioeconomic status likely played a role in daily dietary patterns. However, the isotope data suggest sex did not influence an individual's diet. Discussion These results mirror trends established in status‐based studies from elsewhere in post‐Medieval England. However, notably absent from the data is evidence for significant marine resource consumption, which is a well‐established dietary trend of the late Medieval and early post‐Medieval periods. These results indicate post‐Medieval Chichester was a socially stratified society with clear implications that the diet of higher status individuals differed significantly from lower status.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Socioeconomic differences in diet: An isotopic examination of post‐Medieval Chichester, West Sussex

Dhaliwal

Rando

Reade

et al. 2019

American J Phys Anthropol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Toward a bioarchaeology of urbanization: Demography, health, and behavior in cities in the past

Betsinger

DeWitte

2021

American J Phys Anthropol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Urbanization is one of the most important settlement shifts in human history and has been the focus of research within bioarchaeology for decades. However, there have been limited attempts to synthesize the results of these studies in order to gain a broader perspective on whether or how urbanization affects the biology, demography, and behavior of humans, and how these potential effects are embodied in the human skeleton. This paper outlines how bioarchaeology is well-suited to examine urbanization in the past, and we provide an overview and examples of three main ways in which urbanization is studied in bioarchaeological research: comparison of (often contemporaneous) urban and rural sites, synchronic studies of the variation that exists within and between urban sites, and investigations of changes that occur within urban sites over time. Studies of urbanization, both within bioarchaeology and in other fields of study, face a number of limitations, including a lack of a consensus regarding what urban and urbanization mean, the assumed dichotomous nature of urban versus rural settlements, the supposition that urbanization is universally bad for people, and the assumption (at least in practice) of homogeneity within urban and rural populations. Bioarchaeologists can address these limitations by utilizing a wide array of data and methods, and the studies described here collectively demonstrate the complex, nuanced, and highly variable effects of urbanization.

show abstract

North and South: Exploring isotopic analysis of bone carbonates and collagen to understand post‐medieval diets in London and northern England

Chidimuro,

Doherty,

Finch

et al. 2023

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

ObjectivesWe evaluate the potential of paired isotopic analysis of bone carbonate and collagen to examine the diet of post‐medieval human and animal populations from England (17th–19th c.), including, for the first time, manufacturing towns in northern England. The potential for identifying C4 crop consumption is explored alongside regional and local patterning in diet by sex and socioeconomic status.Materials and MethodsHumans (n = 216) and animals (n = 168) were analyzed from sites in London and northern England for both carbon and nitrogen isotopes of bone collagen (𝛿13Ccoll, 𝛿15Ncoll). Isotopic analysis of bone carbonates (𝛿13Ccarb, 𝛿18Ocarb) was carried out on all humans and 27 animals, using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy–attenuated total reflectance to assess diagenesis.ResultsVariations in diet were observed between and within different populations by geographical location and socioeconomic status. Three pigs and one cow consumed C4 resources, indicating the availability of C4‐fed animal protein. Londoners consumed more animal and marine protein and C4 resources. Middle‐ and upper‐class populations from both London and northern populations also had greater access to these foods compared to those of lower status in the same regions.DiscussionThis substantial multi‐isotope dataset deriving from bone carbonate and collagen combined from diverse post‐medieval urban communities enabled, for the first time, the biomolecular identification of the dynamics of C4 consumption (cane sugar/maize) in England, providing insight into the dynamics of food globalization during this period. We also add substantially to the animal dataset for post‐medieval England, providing further insight into animal management during a key moment of agricultural change.

show abstract

Multidisciplinary investigations of the diets of two post-medieval populations from London using stable isotopes and microdebris analysis

Cited by 12 publications

References 111 publications

Socioeconomic differences in diet: An isotopic examination of post‐Medieval Chichester, West Sussex

Socioeconomic differences in diet: An isotopic examination of post‐Medieval Chichester, West Sussex

Toward a bioarchaeology of urbanization: Demography, health, and behavior in cities in the past

North and South: Exploring isotopic analysis of bone carbonates and collagen to understand post‐medieval diets in London and northern England

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About