Dietary patterns and social structures in medieval Sigtuna, Sweden, as reflected in stable isotope values in human skeletal remains

• Stable isotopes (delta C-13, delta N-15) have been studied in human   burials from the medieval town Sigtuna in Sweden. Dietary patterns of   80 adult individuals were analyzed on three cemeteries representing the   phases of establishment, prosperity and decline of the town. All   analyzed individuals were radiocarbon dated. One of the cemeteries,   Church 1, represents a population of higher social status than those at   the other two cemeteries.   The delta C-13 values are homogenous and showed that the protein intake   was mainly of terrestrial origin in the whole population. delta N-15   values varies more and they may indicate a higher input of vegetables   in the diet at one of the cemeteries, the Nunnan block.   Already in the initial phases of Sigtuna a social hierarchy had been   established which is reflected in dietary patterns. Apparently more   animal protein was consumed among the high status population of the   town. Furthermore, differences in dietary patterns between the sexes   were noted. In all phases the females show more clustered values   indicating a more homogeneous diet than that of the males.

Subject headings

HUMANIORA  -- Historia och arkeologi -- Arkeologi (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- History and Archaeology -- Archaeology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Social status

Sigtuna

Diet

Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes

Radiocarbon

Archaeology subjects

Arkeologiämnen

Ion Physics

Jonfysik

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)