Regional long-term analysis of dietary isotopes in Neolithic southeastern Italy: new patterns and research directions
Abstract Isotopic analyses of prehistoric diet have only recently reached the threshold of going beyond site-focused reports to provide regional syntheses showing larger trends. In this work we present the first regional analysis for Neolithic southeastern Italy as a whole, including both substantia...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2023-05-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-34771-y |
| _version_ | 1797822872911085568 |
|---|---|
| author | M. A. Tafuri S. Soncin S. Panella J. E. Thompson I. Tiberi P. F. Fabbri S. Sivilli F. Radina S. Minozzi I. M. Muntoni G. Fiorentino J. Robb |
| author_facet | M. A. Tafuri S. Soncin S. Panella J. E. Thompson I. Tiberi P. F. Fabbri S. Sivilli F. Radina S. Minozzi I. M. Muntoni G. Fiorentino J. Robb |
| author_sort | M. A. Tafuri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Isotopic analyses of prehistoric diet have only recently reached the threshold of going beyond site-focused reports to provide regional syntheses showing larger trends. In this work we present the first regional analysis for Neolithic southeastern Italy as a whole, including both substantial original data and a review of the available published data. The results show that dietary isotopes can shed new light on a number of traditional and important questions about Neolithic foodways. First, we observe regional variations in the distribution of stable isotope values across the area, suggesting variability in the Neolithic diet. Secondly, we show that, although the plant food calorific intake was primary for these communities, animal products were also important, representing on average 40% of the total calories. Third, we note that marine fish was only minorly consumed, but that this could be an underestimation, and we observe some variability in the regions considered, suggesting differences in local human–environment interactions. People in different regions of southeastern Italy may have consumed different versions of a common Neolithic diet. Regional synthesis also allows us to take stock of gaps and new directions in the field, suggesting an agenda for Neolithic isotopic research for the 2020s. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:15:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5d0aa51819eb49e5b376dfd6404a31b1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:15:44Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-5d0aa51819eb49e5b376dfd6404a31b12023-05-21T11:14:24ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-05-0113111310.1038/s41598-023-34771-yRegional long-term analysis of dietary isotopes in Neolithic southeastern Italy: new patterns and research directionsM. A. Tafuri0S. Soncin1S. Panella2J. E. Thompson3I. Tiberi4P. F. Fabbri5S. Sivilli6F. Radina7S. Minozzi8I. M. Muntoni9G. Fiorentino10J. Robb11Department of Environmental Biology and Mediterranean bioArchaeological Research Advances (MAReA) Centre, Sapienza University of RomeDepartment of Environmental Biology and Mediterranean bioArchaeological Research Advances (MAReA) Centre, Sapienza University of RomeDepartment of Environmental Biology and Mediterranean bioArchaeological Research Advances (MAReA) Centre, Sapienza University of RomeMcDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of CambridgePolo Biblio-Museale Regionale di LecceDepartment of Cultural Heritage, University of SalentoSoprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio per la Città Metropolitana di BariSoprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio per la Città Metropolitana di BariDepartment of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of PisaSoprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio per le Province di Barletta-Andria-Trani e FoggiaDepartment of Cultural Heritage, University of SalentoDepartment of Archaeology, University of CambridgeAbstract Isotopic analyses of prehistoric diet have only recently reached the threshold of going beyond site-focused reports to provide regional syntheses showing larger trends. In this work we present the first regional analysis for Neolithic southeastern Italy as a whole, including both substantial original data and a review of the available published data. The results show that dietary isotopes can shed new light on a number of traditional and important questions about Neolithic foodways. First, we observe regional variations in the distribution of stable isotope values across the area, suggesting variability in the Neolithic diet. Secondly, we show that, although the plant food calorific intake was primary for these communities, animal products were also important, representing on average 40% of the total calories. Third, we note that marine fish was only minorly consumed, but that this could be an underestimation, and we observe some variability in the regions considered, suggesting differences in local human–environment interactions. People in different regions of southeastern Italy may have consumed different versions of a common Neolithic diet. Regional synthesis also allows us to take stock of gaps and new directions in the field, suggesting an agenda for Neolithic isotopic research for the 2020s.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-34771-y |
| spellingShingle | M. A. Tafuri S. Soncin S. Panella J. E. Thompson I. Tiberi P. F. Fabbri S. Sivilli F. Radina S. Minozzi I. M. Muntoni G. Fiorentino J. Robb Regional long-term analysis of dietary isotopes in Neolithic southeastern Italy: new patterns and research directions Scientific Reports |
| title | Regional long-term analysis of dietary isotopes in Neolithic southeastern Italy: new patterns and research directions |
| title_full | Regional long-term analysis of dietary isotopes in Neolithic southeastern Italy: new patterns and research directions |
| title_fullStr | Regional long-term analysis of dietary isotopes in Neolithic southeastern Italy: new patterns and research directions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Regional long-term analysis of dietary isotopes in Neolithic southeastern Italy: new patterns and research directions |
| title_short | Regional long-term analysis of dietary isotopes in Neolithic southeastern Italy: new patterns and research directions |
| title_sort | regional long term analysis of dietary isotopes in neolithic southeastern italy new patterns and research directions |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-34771-y |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT matafuri regionallongtermanalysisofdietaryisotopesinneolithicsoutheasternitalynewpatternsandresearchdirections AT ssoncin regionallongtermanalysisofdietaryisotopesinneolithicsoutheasternitalynewpatternsandresearchdirections AT spanella regionallongtermanalysisofdietaryisotopesinneolithicsoutheasternitalynewpatternsandresearchdirections AT jethompson regionallongtermanalysisofdietaryisotopesinneolithicsoutheasternitalynewpatternsandresearchdirections AT itiberi regionallongtermanalysisofdietaryisotopesinneolithicsoutheasternitalynewpatternsandresearchdirections AT pffabbri regionallongtermanalysisofdietaryisotopesinneolithicsoutheasternitalynewpatternsandresearchdirections AT ssivilli regionallongtermanalysisofdietaryisotopesinneolithicsoutheasternitalynewpatternsandresearchdirections AT fradina regionallongtermanalysisofdietaryisotopesinneolithicsoutheasternitalynewpatternsandresearchdirections AT sminozzi regionallongtermanalysisofdietaryisotopesinneolithicsoutheasternitalynewpatternsandresearchdirections AT immuntoni regionallongtermanalysisofdietaryisotopesinneolithicsoutheasternitalynewpatternsandresearchdirections AT gfiorentino regionallongtermanalysisofdietaryisotopesinneolithicsoutheasternitalynewpatternsandresearchdirections AT jrobb regionallongtermanalysisofdietaryisotopesinneolithicsoutheasternitalynewpatternsandresearchdirections |