Dietary changes across time: Studying the indigenous period of La Gomera using δ C and δ N stable isotope analysis and radiocarbon dating.

OBJECTIVES

This article presents new radiocarbon and isotopic data to provide further information about the diet of the indigenous population of La Gomera and its possible changes across time.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

δ C and δ N of 53 human and 19 faunal samples from different sites on the island have been obtained and analyzed. Of these, 52 have been radiocarbon dated to provide insight on chronological changes.

RESULTS

Human dates range from the 3rd to 15th centuries AD, while faunal dates range from the 1st to 17th centuries AD. Stable carbon and nitrogen values are significantly different between the human and goat samples and have also a trophic increase of 3.4‰. Although male and female δ N data are not significantly different. Both δ C and δ N values of both human and animal samples tend to discretely decrease over time.

DISCUSSION

Radiocarbon dates from humans correlate with other dates obtained in the rest of the archipelago. Animal radiocarbon dates generally coincide except for one date, which requires further study. Isotopic δ N data suggest a mix of marine and terrestrial protein consumption in humans, the latter being more abundant given the seasonality of the first. δ C data also suggest a possible mixed diet in humans, with a predominance of C plants, like Hordeum vulgare, the only grain found in archaeological sites so far. Variations of both δ C and δ N over time suggest a slight modification on the diet, which could be related to environmental changes.