engleski

Reconstructing dietary habits of an early medieval community from Jagodnjak, eastern Croatia: carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis of bone collagen

Dietary habits of past populations were influenced by various factors ranging from environmental, social, and economic reasons to the physiological needs of an individual. Reconstructing the range of dietary variation within and between communities can thus help elucidate some of these factors. Here we present the results of carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis of bone collagen for the early medieval (7th-9th century CE) community of Jagodnjak in eastern Croatia. Based on the archaeological context and direct radiocarbon dates the Jagodnjak cemetery can be placed in the Avar period. The paper will evaluate the dietary variation of bone collagen samples from the stable isotope analysis of δ13C and δ15N. The analysis of individuals of both sexes and all age groups will focus on differences between adult males and females, as well as between juveniles and adults. The samples average –16.28 ±1.72‰ for δ13C, and +10.89 ±1.53 ‰ for δ15N. These data suggest that the adults of both sexes had similar food choices for plants and terrestrial animals / fresh-water fish. Likewise, the adults and juveniles had similar choices for dietary protein. However, the adults and juveniles’ dietary behaviour was different for C3 food re- sources. Comparisons of the available δ13C and δ15N values suggest that Jagodnjak and other Avar period communities from the region did not have the same dietary habits. The present study significantly expands our knowledge about diet and subsistence strategies of early medieval inhabitants of southern Carpathian Basin, but it also helps us to better understand food choices of these people during this time of residential and lifestyle transition.

Jagodnjak, stable isotopes, diet, Early Middle Ages

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