Paleodiet in the Iberian Peninsula: exploring the connections between diet, culture, disease and environment using isotopic and osteoarchaeological evidence

López-Costas, Olalla; Alexander, Michelle

doi:10.1007/s12520-019-00886-5

Cited by 19 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Furthermore, comparisons with the results of previous research in other Iberian Islamic populations illustrate how specific expressions of culturally imposed gender differences can be modulated by environmental and socioeconomic factors. Diet composition, especially the relative contribution of C 3 versus C 4 plant products, appears to have been widely diversified in Iberia (López‐Costas & Alexander, 2019). As noted above, this can be largely attributed to the effects of geophysical factors on the relative viability of crop cultivations (wheat vs. millet) and/or access to specific food sources (e.g., fish and sugarcane).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex differences in diet and life conditions in a rural Medieval Islamic population from Spain (La Torrecilla, Granada): An isotopic and osteological approach to gender differentiation inal‐Andalus

Brobeil

Charisi

Laffranchi

et al. 2021

American J Phys Anthropol

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30Objectives: Gender differentiation can influence the diet, physical activity, and health of human 31 populations. Multifaceted approaches are therefore necessary when exploring the biological 32 consequences of gender-related social norms in the past. Here, we explore the links between diet, 33 physiological stress, physical activity and gender differentiation in the Medieval Islamic 34 population of La Torrecilla (Granada, Spain, 13 th -15 th century AD), by analyzing stable isotope 35 patterns, stature, and long bone diaphyseal measurements. 36 Materials and Methods: The sample includes 96 individuals (48 females, 48 males) classified 37 as young and middle adults (20-34 and 35-50 years of age respectively). Diet was reconstructed 38 through the analysis of δ 13 C and δ 15 N. Stature, humeral and femoral diaphyseal shape and 39 product of diaphyseal diameters served as proxies of physiological stress and physical activity.40 Results: Isotopic ratios suggest a substantial dietary contribution of C 4 plants (e.g., sorghum, 41 millet), a variable access to animal proteins, and no differences between the sexes. Sexual 42 dimorphism in stature derives from a markedly low female stature. Long bone diaphyseal 43 properties suggest that men performed various physically stressful activities, whereas women 44 were involved in less physically demanding activities (possibly related to household work).45 Discussion: Gender differentiation in La Torrecilla was expressed by a possibly differential 46 parental investment in male versus female offspring and by culturally sanctioned gender 47 differences in the performance of physical tasks. Diet was qualitatively homogenous between the 48 sexes, although we cannot rule out quantitative differences. Our results shed new light on the 49 effects of gender-related social norms on human development and lifestyle.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex differences in diet and life conditions in a rural Medieval Islamic population from Spain (La Torrecilla, Granada): An isotopic and osteological approach to gender differentiation inal‐Andalus

Brobeil

Charisi

Laffranchi

et al. 2021

American J Phys Anthropol

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“…Remains of fish are scarcely recorded from archeological sites in Portugal, which may in part be due to recovery techniques and are therefore not sufficient to explore this issue alone. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of bone collagen is a well-established technique to extrapolate dietary information from human, faunal and plant remains and has been employed to reconstruct medieval diets across the Iberian Peninsula (L opez-Costas & Alexander, 2019). However, the dietary practices of Islamic populations before and after the Christian conquest has rarely been explored (Alexander et al, 2015;Toso et al, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beyond faith: Biomolecular evidence for changing urban economies in multi‐faith medieval Portugal

Schifano

Oxborough

McGrath

et al. 2021

American J Phys Anthropol

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Objectives: During the Middle Ages, Portugal witnessed unprecedented socioeconomic and religious changes under transitioning religious political rule. The implications of changing ruling powers for urban food systems and individual diets in medieval Portugal is poorly understood. This study aimed to elucidate the dietary impact of the Islamic and Christian conquests. Materials and Methods: Radiocarbon dating, peptide mass fingerprinting (ZooMS) and stable isotope analysis (δ 13 C, δ 15 N) of animal (n = 59) and human skeletal remains (n = 205) from Muslim and Christian burials were used to characterize the diet of a large historical sample from Portugal. A Bayesian stable isotope mixing model (BSIMM) was used to estimate the contribution of marine protein to human diet.Results: Early medieval (8-12th century), preconquest urban Muslim populations had mean (±1SD) values of À18.8 ± 0.4 ‰ for δ 13 C 10.4 ± 1 ‰ for δ 15 N, indicating a predominantly terrestrial diet, while late medieval (12-14th century) postconquest Muslim and Christian populations showed a greater reliance on marine resources with mean (±1SD) values of À17.9 ± 1.3‰ for δ 13 C and 11.1 ± 1.1‰ for δ 15 N. BSIMM

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“…Dietary stable isotope studies of ancient Islamic individuals have been widely studied in Iberia (and the Balearic Islands), but less extensively elsewhere. Lopez-Costas and Alexander (2019) 51 provide a useful review and discuss that there is no strong evidence that Islamic diet has a distinct isotopic signal that distinguishes it from contemporary Christian diets (e.g. Dury et al, 2019 52 ), despite some well-known cultural differences (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…the prohibition of pork in Islam, fasting and fish eating in Christianity). As Lopez-Costas and Alexander (2019) 51 point out further research is required to investigate such distinctions and certainly further work is required in the Middle East to expand our knowledge of dietary stable isotopes in the Late Antique period.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bioarchaeological analysis of one of the earliest Islamic burials in the Levant

Srigyan

Bolívar

Ureña

et al. 2020

Preprint

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The Middle East plays a central role in human history harbouring a vast diversity of ethnic, cultural and religious groups. However, much remains to be understood about past and present genomic diversity in this region. Here, we present for the first time, a multidisciplinary bioarchaeological analysis of two individuals dated to late 7th and early 8th centuries from Tell Qarassa, an open-air site in modern-day Syria. Radiocarbon dates, religious and cultural burial evidence indicate that this site represents one of the earliest Islamic Arab burials in the Levant during the Late Antiquity period. Interestingly, we found genomic similarity to a genotyped group of modern-day Bedouins and Saudi rather than to most neighbouring Levantine groups. This is highlighted through substantial Neolithic Levant ancestry in our samples, inviting an alternative scenario of long-term continuity in this region. This raises questions about the influence of ancient populations and historical migrations to genetic structure in the Middle East. As our study represents the first genomic analysis of an early Islamic burial in the Levant, we discuss our findings and possible historic scenarios in light of forces such as genetic drift and their possible interaction with religious and cultural processes.

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Paleodiet in the Iberian Peninsula: exploring the connections between diet, culture, disease and environment using isotopic and osteoarchaeological evidence

Cited by 19 publications

References 48 publications

Sex differences in diet and life conditions in a rural Medieval Islamic population from Spain (La Torrecilla, Granada): An isotopic and osteological approach to gender differentiation inal‐Andalus

Sex differences in diet and life conditions in a rural Medieval Islamic population from Spain (La Torrecilla, Granada): An isotopic and osteological approach to gender differentiation inal‐Andalus

Beyond faith: Biomolecular evidence for changing urban economies in multi‐faith medieval Portugal

Bioarchaeological analysis of one of the earliest Islamic burials in the Levant

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