Babes, bones, and isotopes: A stable isotope investigation on nonadults from Aventicum, Roman Switzerland (first –third century CE)

This study presents the stable isotopic results of the first Roman bone sample analysed from Switzerland (30 nonadults and nine females), allowing us an unprecedented insight into health and diet at the site of Aventicum/Avenches, the capital city of the territory ofHelvetii in Roman times (first –third century AD). The fact that the majority of the nonadult samples subject to stable isotope analysis were perinates highlights the complex relationship between their δ15N and δ13C values and those of adult females, as different factors, including variation of fetal and maternal stable isotope values, the possible effects of intrauterine growth, and maternal/fetal disease and/or nutritional stress (e.g., nutritional deficiencies such as scurvy, parasitic infections, such as malaria), could have influenced the observed elevated δ15N values.
Source: International Journal of Osteoarchaeology - Category: Science Authors: Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research