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Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes reveal the human paleodiet evolution during the 8th-12th century in the Venetian Lagoon (Italy)

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Abstract

The paleodiet evolution in a human community of Venetian Lagoon between the eighth and twelfth centuries has been reconstructed by the stable isotopes analysis of δ13C and δ15N found in collagen of teeth and bones from St. Mauro archaeological site (Jesolo, Venice). A total of 52 individuals of various ages, sex, chronologies, and pathological condition were included in this study. Our findings revealed the presence of two distinct dietary patterns influenced only by chronology. We observed that a more fish-based diet (30–60% of the overall diet) prevailed between the eighth and tenth centuries. However, between the tenth and twelfth centuries, fish consumption decreased (10–30% of the overall diet), and there was a shift towards a diet rich in terrestrial protein sources. We link this change in dietary habits to economic development also evidenced by the transformations of the site and increased trade with the hinterland. Furthermore, it was observed significantly higher δ15N values in individuals from 8th-10th compared to those from tenth-twelfth centuries. We proposed two potential explanations: a shift in child-rearing practices, such as delayed weaning during early middle age compared to late middle age, or a change in diet of breast feeders.

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Data Availability

The data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article and its supplementary materials.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino, 155, 30172, Venice Mestre, Italy

    Dario Battistel, Emanuele Bonato, Federica Giummolè & Carlo Barbante

  2. CNR-Institute of Polar Sciences, Venice, Italy

    Dario Battistel, Clara Turetta & Carlo Barbante

  3. Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Salento, 73100, Lecce, Italy

    Serena Viva & Norma Lonoce

  4. Department of History and Cultural Heritage, University of Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy

    Serena Viva

  5. Department of Humanities, Ca’ Foscari University, Venice, Italy

    Silvia Cadamuro & Sauro Gelichi

Authors
  1. Dario Battistel
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  2. Serena Viva
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  3. Clara Turetta
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  4. Silvia Cadamuro
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  8. Carlo Barbante
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  9. Sauro Gelichi
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Contributions

Work concept: DB and SV. Archaeological material assemblage and archaeological context data: SG and SC. Anthropological analysis: NL and SV. Isotope analysis: DB, CT, EB and FG. Supervision: CB and SG. Manuscript drafting with co-author input: DB and SV.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Serena Viva.

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Battistel, D., Viva, S., Turetta, C. et al. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes reveal the human paleodiet evolution during the 8th-12th century in the Venetian Lagoon (Italy). Archaeol Anthropol Sci 16, 117 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-024-02032-2

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