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Fish and resilience among Early Holocene foragers of southern Scandinavia : A fusion of stable isotopes and zooarchaeology through Bayesian mixing modelling

Boethius, Adam LU orcid and Ahlström, Torbjörn LU orcid (2018) In Journal of Archaeological Science 93. p.196-210
Abstract

This study highlights the importance of different protein sources in the diet of Early and Middle Mesolithic humans in southern Scandinavia, and illustrates variation and change in protein consumption patterns during the Early Holocene. By combining previously published stable isotope data with new analyses of human and animal bone remains, a Bayesian mixing model was used to reveal that fishing was more important than previously anticipated in the foraging economy. Incorporating the zooarchaeological record as a prior to guide the Bayesian model enabled further study of Early Holocene foraging in the region. Although primarily a study of human diet, because the results indicate that aquatic systems were more important than previously... (More)

This study highlights the importance of different protein sources in the diet of Early and Middle Mesolithic humans in southern Scandinavia, and illustrates variation and change in protein consumption patterns during the Early Holocene. By combining previously published stable isotope data with new analyses of human and animal bone remains, a Bayesian mixing model was used to reveal that fishing was more important than previously anticipated in the foraging economy. Incorporating the zooarchaeological record as a prior to guide the Bayesian model enabled further study of Early Holocene foraging in the region. Although primarily a study of human diet, because the results indicate that aquatic systems were more important than previously acknowledged, it is possible to discuss the implications for understanding Early Holocene subsistence strategies and mobility. Furthermore, by incorporating both zooarchaeological data and human stable isotope analysis, the methodology can advance palaeodietary studies, by generating dietary protein estimations that can be used to investigate subsistence strategies across a diverse set of human societies.

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type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Bayesian mixing models, Early holocene subsistence, Forager palaeodiet, Mesolithic, Scandinavia, Stable isotopes, Zooarchaeology
in
Journal of Archaeological Science
volume
93
pages
196 - 210
publisher
Academic Press
external identifiers
  • scopus:85043767723
ISSN
0305-4403
DOI
10.1016/j.jas.2018.02.018
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
77802062-9296-47c5-b2ad-1a0d5a8f1142
date added to LUP
2018-03-27 15:43:42
date last changed
2023-04-08 09:50:05
@article{77802062-9296-47c5-b2ad-1a0d5a8f1142,
  abstract     = {{<p>This study highlights the importance of different protein sources in the diet of Early and Middle Mesolithic humans in southern Scandinavia, and illustrates variation and change in protein consumption patterns during the Early Holocene. By combining previously published stable isotope data with new analyses of human and animal bone remains, a Bayesian mixing model was used to reveal that fishing was more important than previously anticipated in the foraging economy. Incorporating the zooarchaeological record as a prior to guide the Bayesian model enabled further study of Early Holocene foraging in the region. Although primarily a study of human diet, because the results indicate that aquatic systems were more important than previously acknowledged, it is possible to discuss the implications for understanding Early Holocene subsistence strategies and mobility. Furthermore, by incorporating both zooarchaeological data and human stable isotope analysis, the methodology can advance palaeodietary studies, by generating dietary protein estimations that can be used to investigate subsistence strategies across a diverse set of human societies.</p>}},
  author       = {{Boethius, Adam and Ahlström, Torbjörn}},
  issn         = {{0305-4403}},
  keywords     = {{Bayesian mixing models; Early holocene subsistence; Forager palaeodiet; Mesolithic; Scandinavia; Stable isotopes; Zooarchaeology}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{196--210}},
  publisher    = {{Academic Press}},
  series       = {{Journal of Archaeological Science}},
  title        = {{Fish and resilience among Early Holocene foragers of southern Scandinavia : A fusion of stable isotopes and zooarchaeology through Bayesian mixing modelling}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2018.02.018}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jas.2018.02.018}},
  volume       = {{93}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}