The diet of settled Neolithic farmers of east-central Europe: isotopic and dental microwear evidence

Kaupová, Sylva Drtikolová; Jarošová, Ivana; Bíšková, Jarmila; Hrnčíř, Václav; Květina, Petr; Neugebauer-Maresch, Christine; Pokutta, Dalia; Řídký, Jaroslav; Tvrdý, Zdeněk; Vytlačil, Zdeněk; Trampota, František

doi:10.1007/s12520-023-01720-9

Cited by 2 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 105 publications

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“…The studied skeletal collection included the remains of a total of 22 individuals from the archaeological site of Modřice (Brno-Country District, Czechia) and was dated by the radiocarbon method to 3800 − 3640 calBC (Drtikolová Kaupová et al 2023), i.e. to the period of the Funnel-beaker Culture (Neolithic -or Early Eneolithic used in the Czech context).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It can therefore be assumed that the inhabitants of the Funnelbeaker Culture lived here in a small agrarian settlement with several homesteads. Their diet was dominated by plant food (Jarošová et al 2022; Drtikolová Kaupová et al 2023), based on C3 plants and rich in carbohydrates. In the territory of Moravia (Czechia), a number of archaeological sites with this culture are still known (Šmíd 2017), but there are not many necropolises with skeletal remains, and the retrieved osteological collections only include the skeletons of a small number of individuals (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Health status of inhabitants from the period of the Funnel-beaker Culture from Modřice (Brno-Country District, Czechia)

Vargová

Tvrdý

Vymazalová

2023

Preprint

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The presented work is focused on the palaeopathological analysis of the skeletal remains of 22 individuals (11 adults, 2 subadults, 9 children) from Modřice (Brno-Country District, Czechia) dated to the period of the Funnel-beaker Culture (3700-4000 BC). It represents a group of settled farmers. There are clear signs on the skeletons of physical activity. These inhabitants subsisted mainly on plant-based food. Compared to similar Neolithic groups, the Modřice skeletons had a very high rate of tooth decay. Of the congenital malformations, skeletal (scaphocephaly) and spinal (vertebral synostosis, spondylolysis) disabilities were found here. Most of the inflammatory changes on the bones were observed in connection with dental diseases, two cases of otitis media and inflammatory foci on the cranial vault of one of the females were also recorded. Although the presented research was limited by the small number of examined skeletons, it presents new information about the health status of the studied population group and enriches the existing knowledge about this important Neolithic population.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health status of inhabitants from the period of the Funnel-beaker Culture from Modřice (Brno-Country District, Czechia)

Vargová

Tvrdý

Vymazalová

2023

Preprint

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“…The analysis of stable isotopes of individuals from Modřice shows that this community did not differ from other Funnel Beaker populations in the region, whose diet was of a terrestrial origin with a dominant C3-plant component supplemented with animal products (Drtikolová Kaupová et al 2023). The isotope values for Modřice 3871 (δ15N = 9.5, δ13C = -19.8) fall close to the average of the Modřice population (δ15N = 9.5; δ13C = -19.6).…”

Section: Cribra Orbitalia and Nutritionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Extensive excavations recovered a rich prehistoric settlement and burial ground associated with the Funnel Beaker culture. The graves include skeletal remains, mostly without artifacts, and are radiocarbon dated to 3,800-3,600 years BCE (Šmíd et al 2018, 2021aDrtikolová Kaupová et al 2023), corresponding to the late Neolithic or Early Eneolithic in Czech archaeology (Jarošová et al 2022). The Funnel Beaker culture is associated with a further Neolithization of the incipient agricultural economy that rapidly spread into parts of northwest and northcentral Europe.…”

Section: Modřice Cemeterymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most of skeletons (including 3871) were deposited in an outstretched position, which was a common burial practice in this phase of the Funnel Beaker culture, although only recently recognized in Moravian archaeology (Šmíd et al 2021b). The rectangular grave pit of 3871 was oriented NW-SE, and the burial was directly dated to 4880±33 years uncalBP (Drtikolová Kaupová et al 2023). A subsequent Bronze Age pit located in the lower part of the legs disturbed the grave of Modřice 3871, and the bones were partially scattered, probably by animals (rodents).…”

Section: Modřice Cemeterymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Craniofacial pathologies in an early adolescent from the Funnel Beaker site of Modřice, Czechia

Williams

Tvrdý

Parma

2023

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Several craniofacial pathologies are present in an early adolescent from a cemetery (n = 22) associated with a Neolithic Funnel Beaker culture in Modřice, Czechia. The objective of the study was to document anomalies on the Modřice 3871 cranium, with an emphasis on investigating whether the mid-sagittal suture exhibited synostosis or bridging to account for the visible scaphocephaly. All available cranial and postcranial elements of the Modřice 3871 early adolescent were examined macroscopically. The cranial vault was subjected to radiography and compared to macroscopic views. Modřice 3871 is estimated to age to 12–14 years. Macroscopic examination and radiography support a diagnosis of mid-sagittal bridging rather than synostosis for this slender and anteroposteriorly elongated cranium. In comparison, the anterior sagittal, coronal and lambdoidal sutures are completely unfused. Craniofacial asymmetry, cribra orbitalia, porotic hyperostosis of the temporal and the presence of multiple wormian bones indicate additional maturational disruptions. The scaphocephaly observed in Modřice 3871 is not severe compared to modern clinical manifestations of craniosynostosis. Radiocarbon dated to 3,700–3,600 years BCE, Modřice 3871 presents one of the oldest recorded cases of scaphocephaly. The elongated vault is probably not the result of head-binding given the dearth of anthropogenic cranial reshaping in the Neolithic of Europe. This study adds to the growing recognition of prehistoric and historic craniofacial anomalies which will likely continue as additional human remains are excavated. In addition, the study increases the understanding of the lived experience of prehistoric individuals experiencing visible craniofacial pathologies such as cranial asymmetry and scaphocephaly.

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The diet of settled Neolithic farmers of east-central Europe: isotopic and dental microwear evidence

Cited by 2 publications

References 105 publications

Health status of inhabitants from the period of the Funnel-beaker Culture from Modřice (Brno-Country District, Czechia)

Health status of inhabitants from the period of the Funnel-beaker Culture from Modřice (Brno-Country District, Czechia)

Craniofacial pathologies in an early adolescent from the Funnel Beaker site of Modřice, Czechia

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