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δ13C and Diet: Analysis of Norwegian Human Skeletons

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Olav Sverre Johansen ,
Steinar Gulliksen  and
Reidar Nydal
Olav Sverre Johansen
Affiliation:
Institute of Social Sciences, University of Tromsø N-9000 Tromsø Norway
Steinar Gulliksen
Affiliation:
Radiological Dating Laboratory, Norwegian Institute of Technology N-7034 Trondheim—NTH, Norway
Reidar Nydal
Affiliation:
Radiological Dating Laboratory, Norwegian Institute of Technology N-7034 Trondheim—NTH, Norway
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Abstract

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The relationship between 13C content of human bone and the marine fraction in the individual diet is well established. In the present investigation human skeletons from inland and coastal areas in Norway were analyzed. Both regional and chronologic differences are revealed, and larger variability than expected at specific sites indicate more complex cultural adaptations than earlier recognized. Extremely high δ13C values, comparable with those obtained from Eskimo sites, are found for material from Early Stone Age fishing/hunting communities.

Type
VII. Applications in Archaeology
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 28 , Issue 2A , 1986 , pp. 754 - 761
Copyright
Copyright © The American Journal of Science 

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