Stable Isotope Evidence for Similarities in the Types of Marine Foods Used by Late Mesolithic Humans at Sites Along the Atlantic Coast of Europe

Author： Richards M.P. Hedges R.E.M.

Publisher： Academic Press

ISSN： 0305-4403

Source： Journal of Archaeological Science, Vol.26, Iss.6, 1999-06, pp. : 717-722

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Abstract

Human bone collagen stable isotope analysis of humans from coastal Mesolithic sites in Scotland, Denmark, France and Portugal indicates the importance of marine foods in the diet. We define the expected human δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values of 100% marine and 100% terrestrial diets and conclude that at most sites isotope variability is due to differing proportions of these defined marine and terrestrial diets, rather than due to differences in the actual types of marine and terrestrial foods exploited. By comparing the European human values with marine faunal values, and values of marine-diet humans from North America, we propose that the marine component of human diet in the Late European Mesolithic was based mainly on marine fish, with only minor contributions from shellfish or marine mammals.