EAA 2022: Abstract

The stable isotope analysis of human and animal remains has become an indispensable tool in palaeodietary reconstruction. Many feeding experiments have been undertaken to estimate the source of variation in trophic isotopic fractionation for carbon, nitrogen and sulphur. Typically these studies are conducted in ecological or biological sciences, and these have permitted archaeologists to estimate tropic isotopic fractionation factors and anticipated diet-tissue offsets for some of the most commonly preserved archaeological tissues e.g. bone, hair. However, beyond the reconstruction of dietary inputs, specific experimental studies under controlled nutritional conditions are needed to examine changes in isotopic fractionation that may be specifically related to the physiology of the individual, but which can also influence the isotope chemistry of preserved tissues. Indeed, there are uncertainties surrounding the effect of food deprivation (e.g., fasting, starvation) on macronutrient metabolism, diet-tissue isotopic offsets and tissue turnover in mammals. Despite numerous studies in other disciplines to understand how the metabolism is working in the context of starvation, very few studies have focused on the specific tissues in archaeology. In this context, the use of controlled feeding experiments is extremely relevant in order to better reconstruct the dietary conditions of past populations. To this matter, we will present various studies carried out on calorically restricted mice and how the alliance between biology and archaeology can enhance the application of multi-isotope methods for the study of the past.

stable isotope, calorie restriction, trophic offset, feeding experiment, interdisciplinarity

Oral presentation

  Abstract (PDF)

Eléa Gutierrez^2,3

Sharon Mitchell³
Catherine Hambly³
John Speakman^1,3,5
Kate Britton^2,4