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Stable Isotope and Radiocarbon Analysis in Animal Bones from the Prehistoric Settlement of Dispilio, Kastoria Lake, Northern Greece

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 November 2017

Paraskevi Chantzi ,
Elissavet Dotsika ,
Konstantinos Albanakis  and
Konstantinos Kostakis
Paraskevi Chantzi*
Affiliation:
Laboratories of Stable Isotopes and Radiocarbon, Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, National Centre for Scientific Research. “Demokritos”, 15310 Agia Paraskevi, Attica, Greece
Elissavet Dotsika
Affiliation:
Laboratories of Stable Isotopes and Radiocarbon, Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, National Centre for Scientific Research. “Demokritos”, 15310 Agia Paraskevi, Attica, Greece Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, Via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Konstantinos Albanakis
Affiliation:
Department of Physical and Environmental Geography, School of Geology, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece
Konstantinos Kostakis
Affiliation:
School of History and Archaeology, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece
*
*Corresponding author. Email: p.chantzi@inn.demokritos.gr.
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Abstract

Wild boar and roe deer samples from an excavation in Dispilio, Greece, were subjected to collagen extraction protocols to reconstruct the paleoecological regime. Radiocarbon (14C) analysis suggested the Middle/Late Neolithic period and the database was updated with collagen samples. The 14C model concluded to a possible local deforestation effect in the settlement subbasin confirmed by sediment δ13C and δ15N values. Carbon isotope values in collagen samples concluded in C3 plant type. Both carbon and nitrogen isotopes indicated the differences in dietary habits and/or metabolic system between the two Late Neolithic I species. Roe deer samples were classified as purely herbivorous. δ15N values of wild boar collagen samples from Dispilio reflected a diet mainly characterized by terrestrial protein. Compared to literature data, wild boar samples from the Dispilio excavation concluded that the animals might have lived close to the settlement where their diet could be supplemented by a consistent animal protein fraction. Finally, it is concluded that rainfall is an important factor that affects plant, and consequently animal, δ15N values. Therefore, the rainfall regime should always be considered in paleodietary studies.

Keywords

collagenKastoriapaleoecologyradiocarbonstable isotopes

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Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 59 , Special Issue 6: 8th International Symposium, Edinburgh, 27 June – 1 July, 2016 Part 2 of 2 , December 2017 , pp. 1629 - 1644
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© 2017 by the Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona 

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Footnotes

Selected Papers from the 8th Radiocarbon & Archaeology Symposium, Edinburgh, UK, 27 June–1 July 2016

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