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20 - The reconstruction of diet and environment in ancient Jordan by carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis of human and animal remains

from Part V - Palaeoeconomies and developing archaeological methodologies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 April 2011

By
Michela Sandias
Edited by
Steven Mithen  and
Emily Black
Michela Sandias
Affiliation:
University of Reading
Steven Mithen
Affiliation:
University of Reading
Emily Black
Affiliation:
University of Reading
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Summary

ABSTRACT

Diet reconstruction by carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis of human and faunal skeletal remains can shed light on exploitation of resources in ancient Jordan and may contribute to the understanding of past environments. This contribution reports on the results of a diachronic investigation of dietary and environmental change in the north of Jordan by stable isotope analysis. Dates of samples range between the Middle Bronze Age and the Early Islamic period, and the archaeological sites included in the discussion are Gerasa, Ya‘amūn, Yajūz and Sa‘ad, in the Western Highlands, and Pella, in the Jordan Valley. Results indicate the predominance of foods derived from C3 plants in the human diet over all periods, as part of a mixed diet of plant and animal protein. Raised carbon stable isotope ratios for some domestic herbivores show that C4 plants were consumed. These were sometimes combined with high δ15N values, which suggest animal husbandry strategies that made use of arid environments.

THE ISOTOPIC APPROACH IN THE STUDY OF DIET AND ECOLOGY OF ANCIENT JORDAN

Stable isotope analysis of bone collagen is an established methodology that allows diet reconstruction at an individual level (Ambrose, 1993; Katzenberg, 2000; Sealy, 2001). It can, therefore, complement information on food resources obtained through the study of faunal and botanical remains, as well as information from textual sources. Moreover, as bone collagen isotopic composition is related to certain habitat characteristics, such as aridity (Heaton, 1987; Ambrose and DeNiro, 1989), this technique may also improve the understanding of past environments.

Type
Chapter
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Water, Life and Civilisation
Climate, Environment and Society in the Jordan Valley
 , pp. 337 - 346
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2011

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