Diet and diversity at later medieval Fishergate: the isotopic evidence. 2007

Gundula Müldner, and Michael P Richards
Department of Archaeology, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AB, UK. g.h.mueldner@reading.ac.uk

We present the results of stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of bone collagen for 155 individuals buried at the Later Medieval (13th to early 16th century AD) Gilbertine priory of St. Andrew, Fishergate in the city of York (UK). The data show significant variation in the consumption of marine foods between males and females as well as between individuals buried in different areas of the priory. Specifically, individuals from the crossing of the church and the cloister garth had consumed significantly less marine protein than those from other locations. Isotope data for four individuals diagnosed with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) are consistent with a diet rich in animal protein. We also observe that isotopic signals of individuals with perimortem sharp force trauma are unusual in the context of the Fishergate dataset. We discuss possible explanations for these patterns and suggest that there may have been a specialist hospital or a local tradition of burying victims of violent conflict at the priory. The results demonstrate how the integration of archaeological, osteological, and isotopic data can provide novel information about Medieval burial and society.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D009587 Nitrogen Isotopes Stable nitrogen atoms that have the same atomic number as the element nitrogen but differ in atomic weight. N-15 is a stable nitrogen isotope. Nitrogen Isotope,Isotope, Nitrogen,Isotopes, Nitrogen
D002048 Burial The act or ceremony of putting a corpse into the ground or a vault, or into the sea; or the inurnment of CREMAINS. Burials
D002247 Carbon Isotopes Stable carbon atoms that have the same atomic number as the element carbon but differ in atomic weight. C-13 is a stable carbon isotope. Carbon Isotope,Isotope, Carbon,Isotopes, Carbon
D004032 Diet Regular course of eating and drinking adopted by a person or animal. Diets
D004057 Hyperostosis, Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal A disease of elderly men characterized by large osteophytes that bridge vertebrae and ossification of ligaments and tendon insertions. Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis,Forestier Disease,Vertebral Ankylosing Hyperostosis,Ankylosing Vertebral Hyperostosis with Tylosis,Forestier's Disease,Forestier-Rotes Disease,Ankylosing Hyperostoses, Vertebral,Ankylosing Hyperostosis, Vertebral,Disease, Forestier,Disease, Forestier's,Disease, Forestier-Rotes,Forestier Rotes Disease,Forestiers Disease,Hyperostoses, Vertebral Ankylosing,Hyperostosis, Vertebral Ankylosing,Vertebral Ankylosing Hyperostoses
D005260 Female Females
D006608 Hierarchy, Social Social rank-order established by certain behavioral patterns. Hierarchies, Social,Social Hierarchies,Social Hierarchy
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012737 Sex Factors Maleness or femaleness as a constituent element or influence contributing to the production of a result. It may be applicable to the cause or effect of a circumstance. It is used with human or animal concepts but should be differentiated from SEX CHARACTERISTICS, anatomical or physiological manifestations of sex, and from SEX DISTRIBUTION, the number of males and females in given circumstances. Factor, Sex,Factors, Sex,Sex Factor

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