Original paper
A time of change: dietary reconstruction of the Merovingian cemetery of Norroy-le-Veneur, France
Vytlačil, Zdeněk; Kaupová, Sylva; Lefebvre, Arnaud; Velemínský, Petr; Brůžek, Jaroslav
Anthropologischer Anzeiger Volume 75 No. 4 (2018), p. 325 - 338
published: Dec 11, 2018
published online: Nov 13, 2018
manuscript accepted: Oct 3, 2018
final revised version received: Oct 3, 2018
manuscript revision requested: May 3, 2018
manuscript received: Nov 28, 2017
DOI: 10.1127/anthranz/2018/0834
ArtNo. ESP140007504006, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
The aim of this work was to analyse the diet of a Merovingian population sample of 80 individuals buried at Norroy-le-Veneur, France, with regard to their social status and chronology. A carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis of human adult bone collagen and related fauna from the same cemetery showed a diet based primarily on C3 plants, supplemented with animal protein in a range comparable to other contemporary sites. No significant contribution of C4 plants (e.g. millet) or marine-derived protein was detected. In terms of socio-economic stratification, individuals buried with rich grave good assemblages formed a narrow group with a significantly higher mean of δ13C than low-ranking individuals. We argue that this may represent a step in the gradual formation of the dietary exclusivity of Frankish elites, following a progressive rise in power of the Merovingian nobility. Also, during the timespan of the cemetery there was a population-wide decrease of 0.3 ‰ in the mean value of δ13C. The role of the Christian conversion of the population is questioned, but another factor influencing diet might have played a role.
Keywords
dietary reconstruction • carbon • nitrogen • collagen • Middle Ages • Merovingian period