Multi-isotopic analysis reveals individual mobility and diet at the Early Iron Age monumental tumulus of Magdalenenberg, Germany

American Journal of Physical Anthropology
Vicky M OelzeMichael P Richards

Abstract

For the Early Iron Age western Hallstatt culture, which includes the site of Magdalenenberg in southwest Germany, it has been proposed that people were mobile and maintained far reaching social and trading networks throughout Europe. We tested this hypothesis by analyzing multiple isotopes (strontium, oxygen, sulfur, carbon, and nitrogen) of the preserved skeletons from the Magdalenenberg elite cemetery to determine diets and to look for evidence of mobility. The analysis of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur isotope ratios in collagen of humans (n = 50) and associated domestic fauna (n = 10) indicates a terrestrial-based diet. There was a heterogeneous range of isotope values in both strontium (0.70725 to 0.71923, n = 76) and oxygen (13.4‰ to 18.5‰, n = 78) measured in tooth enamel. Although many of the individuals had values consistent with being from Hallstatt culture sites within southwest Germany, some individuals likely originated from further afield. Possible areas include the Alps of Switzerland and Austria or even locations in Italy. Our study strongly supports the assumption of far reaching social and economic networks in the western Hallstatt culture.

References

Jul 1, 1972·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·L E Ditch, J C Rose
May 20, 1998·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·L E Wright, H P Schwarcz
Jan 30, 2002·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Jaroslav Bruzek
Aug 27, 2002·European Radiology·N P HollingsD M Hansell
Nov 1, 2003·Science·Wolfgang MüllerJo-Anne Wartho
Jun 15, 2007·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Tosha L Dupras, Matthew W Tocheri
Mar 8, 2008·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Mandy JaySarah S King
May 7, 2008·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Louise T HumphreyMalcolm Penn
Jun 10, 2008·Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry : RCM·Maura PellegriniMargherita Mussi
Jan 1, 1989·Neurochemistry International·C Walch, R Schliebs

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jul 23, 2013·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Rebecca L KinastonAndrew Gray
Jul 13, 2016·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Christine Schuh, Cheryl A Makarewicz
Feb 25, 2014·Nature Genetics·Christina WarinnerEnrico Cappellini
Mar 23, 2021·Journal of Human Evolution·Dorothée G DruckerJoaquim Soler

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome

Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is a rare genetic disorder of abnormal lymphocyte survival caused by defective Fas mediated apoptosis. Discover the latest research on ALPS here.