Isotopic reconstruction of diet of the Early Bronze Age population of today Czech Republic and its social aspects

Stable carbon (δ13 C) and nitrogen (δ15 N) isotope analysis was performedon 83 human skeletal samples (bone collagen) from EarlyBronze Age Únětice culture contexts. The studypopulation originated from two geographic regions - 22 individuals from Eastern Bohemia (sites Lípa, Lochenice and Horní Přím) and 61 individuals from Southern Moravia (sites Hrušovany nad Jevišovkou, Pasohlávky and Podolí u Brna). The primary objective was to reconstruct the dietary patterns of these populations and to identify the influence of demographic factors and burial types (standard burial at burial ground, standard burial at settlement and non-standard burial at settlement) on isotopic values. Furthermore, the results were compared with other Early Bronze Age sites in Central Europe. The analysis revealed a terrestrial diet based on C3 plants with a high proportion of animal protein. The consumption of C4 plants (millet) and marine resources was excluded. Distinct values δ13 C reflected environmental differences between the two regions - the isotopic signal for Eastern Bohemia suggests a more humid and/or forested environment, whereas Southern Moravia indicates a more arid and open landscape. High δ15 N values in both regions may point to intensive manuring, which elevates the overall trophic level. These values do...