Prehistoric Fijian diet and subsistence: integration of faunal, ethnographic, and stable isotopic evidence from the Lau Island Group

Jones, Sharyn; Quinn, Rhonda L.

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2009.08.014

Cited by 63 publications

(74 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…No correlation between carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios and yield, %C, %N and C:N ratios were found for the 16 other samples indicating that preservation indicator values do not appear to result from taphonomic processes. Talasiu human collagen δ Richards et al, 2009;Allen and Craig, 2009;Jones and Quinn, 2009;Valentin et al, 2010;. When compared to the two pigs values, the Talasiu human values are more positive for both carbon (+4.0‰) and nitrogen (+2.9‰).…”

Section: Collagen Data Contributionmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…These expected human diet values are consistent with the consumption of a mixed diet involving at least three dietary components. The stable carbon isotope ratios demonstrate the complementary contribution of terrestrial resources, including C 3 -plants and animal Data from: Fry et al, 1983;Collier and Hobson, 1987;Keegan and DeNiro, 1988;Leach et al, 1996;Ambrose et al, 1997;Yoneda et al, 2004;Valentin et al, 2006;Beavan Athfield et al, 2008;Field et al, 2009;Allen and Craig, 2009;Jones and Quinn, 2009;Richards et al, 2009;White et al, 2010;Valentin et al, 2010;Storey et al, 2010; Only 1 archaeological specimen from Valentin et al, 2010. b All data from Yoneda et al, 2004, on 81 bone collagen samples. c Only 2 archaeological specimens from Kinaston et al, 2014. d All specimens are archaeological except 10 moderns from Ambrose et al, 1997, Valentin et al, 2006, Beavan Athfield et al, 2008 e All samples are modern ones.…”

Section: Collagen Data Contributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Multi-isotopic analysis of first Polynesian diet (Talasiu, Tongatapu, Kingdom of Tonga)

Herrscher¹,

Fenner²,

Valentin³

et al. 2018

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports

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A B S T R A C TBoth archaeological and isotopic data document dietary changes over the first five centuries of Western Pacific island settlement, a time period beginning with the Lapita expansion about 3000 years ago. This change is marked by a decrease in marine food intake and an increase in vegetal food intake occurring in the Late Lapita/ immediately post-Lapita populations. The recent discovery of human burials at Talasiu (~2700-2600 cal. BP) in the Kingdom of Tonga opens new opportunities to assess this matter. We characterize the nature of the food items consumed by the Talasiu humans (n = 21) using collagen and apatite carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios. We conducted an intra-Pacific comparison to examine the use of marine resources and the contribution of horticultural products and to look at the homogeneity of dietary practices within the Tongan group. Isotope results indicate a mixed diet of terrestrial and marine resources including a differential contribution of more specific marine foods (e.g., non-reef fish/inshore fish and shellfish). The Talasiu dietary pattern appears closer to that of the early Lapita population of Teouma than to other Late Lapita populations suggesting a different pattern of dietary change at the eastern end of the Lapita distribution. The slower rate of change may be due to the small size of both the island and the population, and also the additional potential role of social or cultural factors.

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Section: Collagen Data Contributionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Section: Collagen Data Contributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-isotopic analysis of first Polynesian diet (Talasiu, Tongatapu, Kingdom of Tonga)

Herrscher¹,

Fenner²,

Valentin³

et al. 2018

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports

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“…The d 13 C values of the reef fish from Watom are lower than those observed in other Pacific island studies (cf. Beavan-Athfield et al, 2008;Allen and Craig, 2009;Field et al, 2009;Jones and Quinn, 2009;Richards et al, 2009;Valentin et al, 2010). These differences may be a result of natural variations between reef environments or the sampling of fish in this study that inhabited sea-grass meadows, which typically display very low The human isotope data support that it is possible that pelagic fish species and/or turtle may have been eaten as well.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 59%

“…Additionally, pigs (n 5 25) and three species of fish (n 5 6) were sampled to create a local environmental dietary baseline for Watom and to assess potential changes in pig husbandry methods over time. To increase the sample size for the dietary baseline, modern tropical Pacific island plants and animals, in addition to prehistoric fauna from previously published studies, were also included (Yoshinaga et al, 1991;Ambrose et al, 1997;Leach et al, 2003;Allen and Craig, 2009;Casu et al, 2009;Field et al, 2009;Jones and Quinn, 2009;Richards et al, 2009;Valentin et al, 2010;Kinaston et al, 2014b). All modern plant and most modern fauna were from studies that detailed the specific defatting protocols used (i.e., Beavan-Athfield et al, 2008;Kinaston et al 2014b).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, with the exception of the burial ground on Watom and three cemeteries in Vanuatu (Teouma, Uripiv, and Vao) (Bedford et al, , 2011, most human skeletal remains associated with the Lapita people reflect single interments or scattered bone not associated with intact burials (e.g., Pietrusewsky et al, 1998;Katayama et al, 2007), some of which have been redated and found to postdate the Lapita period (Petchey et al, 2011). Recently, the stable isotope analysis of human skeletal remains has become a popular method to assess prehistoric diet in the Pacific islands (e.g., Leach et al, 2003;Valentin et al, 2006;Field et al, 2009;Jones and Quinn, 2009;Richards et al, 2009;Kinaston et al, 2013a,b,c). Importantly for this study, the stable isotope analysis of human bone collagen from Lapita individuals can provide information about the subsistence practices and animal husbandry methods of colonizing communities, thereby expanding these studies beyond a purely dietary focus and illuminating possible adaptations to food production during this period Kinaston and Buckley, 2013;Kinaston et al, 2014a,b).…”

Section: And Dmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lapita diet and subsistence strategies on Watom Island, Papua New Guinea: New stable isotope evidence from humans and animals

Kinaston

Anson

Petchey

et al. 2015

American J Phys Anthropol

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Stable isotope ratios (δ(13)C and δ(15)N) were analyzed from the bone collagen of individuals (n = 8) from a Lapita burial ground (ca. 2800-2350 BP) on Watom Island, located off northeast New Britain in the Bismarck Archipelago. The aim of this study was to assess the diet and subsistence strategies of humans that lived during the later Lapita period in Near Oceania. To aid in the interpretation of the human diet we analyzed the stable isotope ratios of faunal material from the site (n = 27). We also aim to assess methods of animal husbandry at the site over time from an analysis of the stable isotope ratios (δ(13)C and δ(15)N) of pig bones (n = 22) from different temporal periods (Lapita, post-Lapita, and late prehistoric). The protein diet of the humans consisted of marine organisms from the inshore environment and some deep-water species, most likely marine turtle, in addition to higher trophic level terrestrial foods, likely pig and native animals (e.g., fruit bat, Cuscus and bandicoot). Although the sample sizes were small, females (n = 4) displayed more variable δ(13)C and δ(15)N values compared with males (n = 4), which may be associated with the movement of adult females to the island. The stable isotope analysis of the pig bones indicated that there were few differences between the diets of the pigs from the Lapita and post-Lapita layers, suggesting that the method of pig husbandry was similar between these two periods and was likely relatively free-range.

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Diet and social status on Taumako, a Polynesian outlier in the Southeastern Solomon Islands

Kinaston

Buckley

Gray

2013

American J Phys Anthropol

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Stable isotopes (δ(13)C, δ(15)N, and δ(34)S) are used to characterize the diet of the adult individuals (n = 99) interred in the Namu burial ground located on the Polynesian outlier of Taumako (∼300-750 BP). Polynesian outliers are islands on the fringe of Remote Oceania that were inhabited by a back migration of populations from Polynesia during prehistory. As a result of admixture with nearby island communities, little is known about the social structure and social diversity of the prehistoric inhabitants of Taumako. The distribution of prestige grave goods within the Namu cemetery has been used as evidence to support the premise that Taumakoan social structure was stratified like Polynesian societies. Here we test the hypothesis that "wealthy" individuals and males will display isotopic ratios indicative of the consumption of "high status" foods in the Pacific islands such as pork, chicken, sea turtle, and pelagic fish. The isotope results suggest the δ(34) S values were diagenetically altered, possibly an effect of volcanism. The carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios indicate that the diet of all the individuals included a mixture of C3 terrestrial plant foods (likely starchy staples such as yam, taro, and breadfruit, in addition to nuts) and a variety of marine resources, including reef and pelagic fish. The stable isotope results indicate that wealthy individuals and males were eating more foods from higher trophic levels, interpreted as being high status animal foods. The socially differentiated food consumption patterns are discussed within a Pacific island context.

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Prehistoric Fijian diet and subsistence: integration of faunal, ethnographic, and stable isotopic evidence from the Lau Island Group

Cited by 63 publications

References 33 publications

Multi-isotopic analysis of first Polynesian diet (Talasiu, Tongatapu, Kingdom of Tonga)

Multi-isotopic analysis of first Polynesian diet (Talasiu, Tongatapu, Kingdom of Tonga)

Lapita diet and subsistence strategies on Watom Island, Papua New Guinea: New stable isotope evidence from humans and animals

Diet and social status on Taumako, a Polynesian outlier in the Southeastern Solomon Islands

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