Abstracts
Abstract
The stable isotope analysis of preserved proteinaceous tissues, such as bone collagen and hair keratin, offers a powerful means of examining individual dietary practices in archaeology and, through this, inferring the subsistence behaviours, socio-cultural practices, and food preferences of past populations. Previous isotope research at the precontact Yup’ik village site of Nunalleq, Alaska, has provided evidence of a mixed diet of marine and terrestrial foods (but likely dominated by salmonids), but also highlighted some dietary variability amongst the inhabitants of the site. However, materials from the older rescue excavations were insufficient to infer whether this variability was interpersonal and/or diachronic in nature. Here, new stable carbon and nitrogen isotope data from human hair are presented. These were obtained during the research excavations at Nunalleq from temporally constrained, well-stratified contexts. The new data reveal dietary change through time at the site, highlighting changes in resource use and subsistence practices during the Little Ice Age. During the middle phase of occupation at the site (Phase III; cal AD 1620–1650), diet is more varied, most likely relating to the differing relative contribution of salmon versus higher trophic level marine mammal protein to the diet of some individuals at the site. Analysis reveals these differences to be site-spatial, possibly indicating differences with the use of space at the site, and/or hinting at possible social differentiation in diet during Phase III. In the final occupation phase (Phase II; cal AD 1640–1660), diet is more homogeneous and demonstrates an increased exploitation of higher-trophic level marine foods.
Keywords:
- Palaeodiet,
- keratin,
- Alaska,
- precontact,
- hunter-gatherer-fisher,
- marine foragers,
- Yup’ik
Résumé
L’analyse des isotopes stables de tissus préservés riches en protéines, comme le collagène osseux et la kératine capillaire, est une approche puissante d’examiner les pratiques alimentaires individuelles en archéologie et, par conséquent, d’inférer les comportements de subsistance, les pratiques socio-culturelles et les préférences alimentaires des populations passées. Une étude précédente sur les isotopes menée sur le site précontact du village Yup’ik de Nunalleq (Alaska), a mis en évidence un régime alimentaire mixte composé de ressources marines et terrestres (vraisemblablement dominé par les salmonidés), mais également une certaine variabilité alimentaire entre les habitants du site. Toutefois, le matériel provenant des fouilles de sauvetage plus anciennes n’était pas suffisant pour déterminer si cette variabilité était diachronique ou due à des différences inter-individuelles. Nous présentons ici de nouvelles données sur les isotopes stables du carbone et de l’azote provenant de cheveux humains. Celles-ci ont été obtenues à Nunalleq lors de fouilles effectuées en contexte bien stratifié et chronologiquement bien défini. Les nouvelles données révèlent un changement de régime alimentaire au court du temps, mettant en évidence des changements dans les modes de subsistance et l’utilisation des ressources pendant le Petit Âge Glaciaire. Pendant la phase intermédiaire d’occupation du site (phase III ; 1620-50 après J.C. cal), le régime alimentaire est plus varié, très probablement en raison de la variation dans la contribution relative du saumon et des protéines de mammifères marins de niveau trophique supérieur dans l’alimentation de certains individus sur le site. L’analyse révèle que ces différences sont d’ordre spatial, ce qui pourrait indiquer des différences quant à l’utilisation de l’espace sur le site et/ou suggérer une éventuelle différenciation sociale dans l’alimentation pendant la phase III. Lors de la phase finale d’occupation (phase II ; 1640-60 après J.C. cal), le régime alimentaire est plus homogène, révélant une exploitation accrue de ressources d’origine marine de niveau trophique supérieur.
Mots-clés:
- Palaeodiète,
- keratin,
- Alaska,
- précontact,
- chasseur-cueilleur-pêcheur,
- cueilleur marin,
- Yup’ik
Appendices
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