Remembering the Famine

Kinealy, Christine

doi:10.1007/978-0-230-80247-6_1

Cited by 1 publication

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“…While crops grown in early‐modern England were predominantly C 3 , this period saw the opening up of the New World and a dynamic period of food globalization, resulting in C 4 species such as sugar cane and maize being imported from the Americas (Mintz, 1986 ; Thirsk, 2007 ). Maize consumption developed following the Great Famine in Ireland (1845–1849) when it was used as relief food for the Irish who emigrated to England (Kinealy, 2006 ), though it was not until the early‐20th century that maize was widely accepted by most for human rather than animal consumption (Hill, 1977 ; Holland, 1919 ). Cane sugar consumption grew with Britain's colonization of the West Indies in the 17th century, which led to the average intake per capita increasing ~12 kg/year between 1700 and 1850, and further still following the abolition of sugar tax in 1874 (Johnson et al, 2007 ; Mintz, 1986 ; Walvin, 2017 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

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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.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%