Reconstructing infant weaning histories at Roman period Kellis, Egypt using stable isotope analysis of dentition

Abstract

Studies of infant feeding and weaning patterns in past populations that rely on a cross-sectional approach must make the assumption that no infant mortality bias exists. Previous investigations of infant weaning patterns at the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt, relied on cross-sectional isotope data. In this study, we re-examine this weaning pattern, using a simulated longitudinal approach, which does not require any assumptions regarding potential infant mortality biases. This involves examining the dental isotopic signatures of individuals who survived the weaning process. Stable isotope signatures from juveniles and adults (102 individuals, 297 teeth) were examined to reconstruct the weaning history of those that survived the weaning process. Both deciduous and permanent teeth were sampled. Homogenized enamel and dentin samples were isolated from each tooth and analyzed for delta(13)C(ap) and delta(18)O(ap) from the enamel and delta(15)N(coll) and delta(13)C(coll) from dentin collagen. We investigate differences between in utero versus postbirth, preweaning versus postweaning, and juvenile versus adult stable isotope values as reflected in the dentition. A random permutation procedure was used to test for statistically significant differences in stable isotope values between tooth types. Statistically significant differences were observed in all stable isotopes between permanent and deciduous teeth, and between early and later forming permanent teeth in delta(13)C(ap) and delta(15)N(coll) isotopes. These results indicate dietary change between in utero and postbirth, and changes occurring during the weaning period. These results provide a more comprehensive picture of infant weaning practices at Kellis and provide further support that complete weaning occurred by 3 years of age.

Sex‐biased weaning and early childhood diet among middle holocene hunter–gatherers in Central California

“…Because there are so few hunter-gatherer groups around the world today, and because many modern behaviors have evolutionary roots in hunting and gathering settings, reconstructing weaning behaviors from ancient hunter-gatherer populations provides an important and independent data set to test anthropological, evolutionary, and ecological hypotheses about parental investment strategies. Indeed, much recent research has sought to estimate weaning and early childhood diets in ancient populations (Katzenberg and Pfeiffer, 1995;Schwarz, 1998, 1999;Mays, 2003;Clayton et al, 2006;Fuller et al, 2006aFuller et al, , 2006bDupras et al 2007;Choy et al, 2010;Eerkens et al, 2011;Nehlich et al, 2011).…”

Stable isotope analysis of soft tissues from mummified human remains

“…C 4 millet, sorghum) in combination with C 3 plants grown in winter months (wheat and barley). The same is not true for Egypt, which until the Roman period was dominated by wheat and barley, with only a few sites indicating much C 4 consumption, and this may be due to C 4 plant based animal fodder rather than direct human consumption Dupras and Tocheri 2007).…”

Child Bioarchaeology: Perspectives on the Past 10 Years

“…As was demonstrated above, there has been a proliferation of studies in this area over the past decade (e.g. Fuller et al 2006;Dupras and Tocheri 2007;Kinaston et al 2009;Beaumont et al 2013Beaumont et al , 2015Tsutaya and Yoneda 2013;Beaumont and Montgomery 2016). The analysis of carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios is now routinely used to evaluate breastmilk lipid and protein, respectively, and study of oxygen stable isotope ratios is occasionally used to evaluate breastmilk in the diet.…”