Dietary changes and millet consumption in northern France at the end of Prehistory: Evidence from archaeobotanical and stable isotope data

Abstract

Diachronic changes of dietary human habits between the Neolithic and the Bronze Age are mainly identified through archaeological artefacts and archaeozoological and archaeobotanical studies. This paper aims to demonstrate the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach for palaeodietary studies and to identify the food changes between Neolithic and Bronze Age human groups in northern France. These changes are probably linked to the introduction of new crops, such as millet, and the use of stable isotope analysis on bones and teeth proves to be an effective method for assessing the role of this specific cereal in the diet and the economy. Stable isotope analyses were performed on bone and tooth collagen and apatite from eight humans and five domestic animals from a Late Bronze Age site (LBA; Barbuise; 15th–13th c. BC; Aube). The studied corpus is compared with isotopic data from human and animal bones from a nearby Neolithic site (Gurgy; 5th mill. BC; Yonne) and regional Neolithic to Iron sites located in northern France. Moreover, Barbuise data are supplemented by information from an important archaeobotanical study carried out on 21 LBA and Early Iron Age sites in the region. Neolithic and LBA human collagen isotopic ratios (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N) differ statistically, as do those of some animals. Carbon isotopic ratios of human apatite corroborate collagen results indicating the consumption of ¹³C enriched food by LBA humans and animals compared to Neolithic samples. The high number of occurrences of plant remains in the Bronze Age settlements near the site points to the consumption of C₄ plants, such as millet, and would account for these results.

Keywords:

• Stable isotope
• Archaeobotany
• Millet
• Neolithic
• Bronze Age
• France

Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche – Investissements d'avenir – ANR-10-LABX-52 (LaScArBx, projet DHP) and the University of Bordeaux. Archaeobotanical studies received a grant from the Direction de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine from the Ministry for Culture and Communication. We also thank S. Cabut for the statistical expertise (UMR 7269 LAMPEA, Aix en Provence, France) and J. Ughetto and M. Balasse (SSIMM MNHN UMR 7209, Paris, France) for their availability and services.