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International audience; Understanding the contribution of fish to the human dietis an important debate in past population studies as it implies specific organization (e.g. adapted techniques, gender-based activities?) and relationship with the local or sublocal environments (e.g. mobility, seasonal-based exploitation). In the Paris Basin, the role of fish has been discussed mainly from rare but obviousarchaeologicalremains such as fish bones or hooks. Previous isotopic data from Neolithic human bone bulk collagen highlighted the potential of freshwater resources in protein diet but were not able to quantify it or even confirm its role. In this study we conducted, for the first time on early farmers from France,compound specific isotope analysis on bone collagen amino acids (CSIA-AA). Results indicate a particularly high trophic level of some humans with protein intake mainly based on terrestrial animal resources (domestic cattle and pig), while others rather havea plant-based diet. Freshwater resources appeared to be not significant and several possible food combinations are discussed. Pig particularly appears more herbivorous than previously assumed and has possibly consumed manured cereals from human food waste.

L’exploration des structures de parenté dans les sociétés du passé a été au centre des études en archéologie et en anthropologie. Cependant, la reconstruction des liens de parenté biologique en contextes archéologiques a rarement été accessible. Avec le développement des méthodes d’analyses en ADN ancien, il est désormais possible d’obtenir des données génomiques pour de nombreux individus d’un même groupe, même dans le cas d’une faible conservation de l’ADN. Nous présentons ici de nouvelles ...

Previous studies have identified differences based on sex in adult diet and age-based changes in the funerary treatment of children in the Neolithic of northern France. This preliminary study investigates sex-based differences and age-related changes in diet and mobility in childhood in comparison to adulthood. Nineteen individuals from the Neolithic Yonne valley (Paris Basin) were analyzed for δ13C and δ15N in dentine of the second permanent molar (M2) and 15 also for δ34S. Analyses were performed on different tooth parts depending on the individuals and targeted different age groups: bulk coronal (ca. 2.5–8.5 years; n = 16 adults) and root dentine (ca. 8.5–12 years; n = 1 juvenile) and dentine microsections of the entire tooth (6 age groups between 2.5 and 16 years old; n = 2 adults). Higher δ15N values in dentine than in adult bone reflect children’s dietary specificity, possibly due to their nutritional needs during growth. There is no mean isotopic difference in coronal dentine between males and females under 9 years old. Dietary sex-based division occurs later. Two isotopic shifts are observed on the incremental profiles, indicative of social transitions, possibly sex-related, around 8–9 and 14 years old. The variability of δ34S values highlights different mobility patterns between the sexes and argues for patrilocality. These results echo previous studies and offer a promising perspective which must be investigated further on a larger sample size.

With the arrival of the Neolithic to Europe, new ways of life and new subsistence strategies emerged. In the Paris Basin (northern France), the appearance of some monumental funerary structures during the Middle Neolithic highlights in particular the increasing complexity of the social organisation. At the same time, several sites, such as open-air cemeteries, do not display any evidence of such arrangement. In the southeast of this area, the two primary routes of neolithisation meet. Several funerary parameters attest to the diverse influence received from other surrounding cultures. In order to assess potential differences in diet, and therefore on purported social distinctions at the inter- and intra-site level, stable isotope analyses (carbon, nitrogen and sulphur) were performed on bone collagen of humans (n = 177) and non-human animals (n = 62) from seven archaeological sites located in the same area (

Les comportements alimentaires de la population néolithique de Gurgy « Les Noisats » (Yonne, Vemillénaire av. J.-C.) sont étudiés à travers l'analyse des ratios isotopiques du collagène osseux de 40 sujets. Cette nécropole correspond à l'une des plus importantes du Néolithique français : elle compte 126 inhumations primaires sur une période d'occupation de près d'un millénaire. Au cœur d'une région située à l'intersection entre plusieurs cultures, la grande diversité des dispositifs funéraires et du mobilier atteste des multiples influences alentour. Les résultats isotopiques (δ13C et δ15N) des humains comparés à la faune régionale soulignent l'importance des protéines animales issues de l'élevage (viande ou produits laitiers) — voire de poissons d'eau douce — dans le régime alimentaire. La très faible variation des valeurs enregistrée au sein de la population montre une grande homogénéité, rarement mise en évidence pour cette période, indiquant la consommation de ressources similaires pour l'ensemble des individus étudiés. La comparaison de ces données avec les paramètres biologiques et funéraires dégage toutefois quelques tendances, notamment en fonction de l'âge et du sexe des défunts, ainsi que de la chronologie.

International audience; 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.

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