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Stable isotope measurements reveal diverse agricultural management strategies in the Roman Iron Age (1–400 cal AD) southeast Baltic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 August 2025

K. Minkevičius Open the ORCID record for K. Minkevičius [Opens in a new window] ,
G. Piličiauskienė Open the ORCID record for G. Piličiauskienė [Opens in a new window] ,
R. Vengalis Open the ORCID record for R. Vengalis [Opens in a new window] ,
G. Piličiauskas Open the ORCID record for G. Piličiauskas [Opens in a new window] ,
E. Pranckėnaitė Open the ORCID record for E. Pranckėnaitė [Opens in a new window] ,
D. Kontrimas  and
D. Kisielienė Open the ORCID record for D. Kisielienė [Opens in a new window]
K. Minkevičius*
Affiliation:
Nature Research Centre, Laboratory of Quaternary Research, Akademijos st. 2, 08414 Vilnius, Lithuania
G. Piličiauskienė
Affiliation:
Vilnius University, Department of Archaeology, Universiteto st. 7, 01513 Vilnius, Lithuania
R. Vengalis
Affiliation:
Lithuanian Institute of History, Department of Archaeology, Tilto st. 17, 01101 Vilnius, Lithuania
G. Piličiauskas
Affiliation:
Lithuanian Institute of History, Department of Archaeology, Tilto st. 17, 01101 Vilnius, Lithuania
E. Pranckėnaitė
Affiliation:
Klaipėda University, Institute of Baltic Region History and Archaeology, H. Manto st. 84, 92294 Klaipėda, Lithuania
D. Kontrimas
Affiliation:
The Directorate of Vilnius Castles State Cultural Reserve, T. Kosčiuškos st. 30, 01100 Vilnius, Lithuania
D. Kisielienė
Affiliation:
Nature Research Centre, Laboratory of Quaternary Research, Akademijos st. 2, 08414 Vilnius, Lithuania
*
Corresponding author: K. Minkevičius; Email: karolis.minkevicius@gmail.com
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Abstract

This study presents a series of new radiocarbon dates and the first stable carbon and nitrogen isotope measurements of C3 cereal grains from Roman Iron Age (1–400 AD) archaeobotanical assemblages in Lithuania, southeastern Baltic region. These data are complemented by stable isotope measurements of faunal remains to assess local environmental conditions and evaluate human impact on the landscape through agricultural practices. The δ15N and δ13C values indicate that agriculture during this period relied heavily on intensive manuring and cultivation in open, well-irrigated landscapes. The results also reveal diverse cultivation strategies across sites, with isotopic differences between rye and barley suggesting the possible use of an infield–outfield cultivation system. Radiocarbon dates indicate that these agricultural innovations may have started as early as the 1st to mid-2nd century AD with the introduction of rye, however the evidence points to a gradual and uneven adoption rather than a rapid uniform shift.

Keywords

agriculturearchaeobotanyradiocarbon datesRoman Iron Agesoutheast Balticstable isotope analysis

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Type
Research Article
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 67 , Issue 4 , August 2025 , pp. 783 - 802
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© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of University of Arizona

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