Childhood Diet, Mobility, and Weaning in the Early Medieval Kingdom of Lindissi

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Lindissi is an early medieval Kingdom that encompassed the majority of North Lincolnshire, U.K. It was independently ruled until roughly the early 7th century when it underwent many years of sociopolitical change before finally being absorbed by Mercia. Here we examine bulk tooth enamel δ13C and δ18O isotopic signatures from six sites in the region to explore dietary and weaning patterns as well as childhood mobility during this turbulent period. Permanent first (0-3 yrs.) and third molars (7-16 yrs.) from 26 adult individuals across sexes that date to between the 4th and 8th centuries were sampled. By comparing and contrasting data from both tooth types, we are able to create snapshots of child life history from early to later childhood. Macpherson (2005) examined enamel from a further four sites in North Lincolnshire which date to between the 8th and 12th centuries. Comparing our data with their data shows long-term trends in weaning habits across the entirety of the medieval period. Finally, we are able to contrast these data to previously reported bone collagen δ13C and δ15N data for our sample to discuss the complex nature of inter-tissue comparisons and show trends throughout the life-course.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 41492.0