What were they eating at Varnhem? Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of an early Christian burial ground in southwestern Sweden

• Sweden saw political, social, and religious changes during the 8th–11th centuries in connection to the conversion to Christianity. It was during this period that the social elite began building farm churches to serve their local communities. The private estate church at Kata Gård in Varnhem, province of Västergötland, Sweden, is one of the earliest examples. Previous analyses of osteology, strontium isotopes and DNA have provided insight into the life-histories of the individuals buried here. Here, palaeodietary analysis using stable carbon (δ13C), and nitrogen (δ15N) isotopes demonstrate that the individuals at the site had a heterogenous terrestrial diet with aquatic influences with differences between high status males and the rest of the population.  

Ämnesord

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

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

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