Isotope analyses to explore diet and mobility in a medieval Muslim population at Tauste (NE Spain)

The Islamic necropolis discovered in Tauste (Zaragoza, Spain) is the only evidence that a large Muslim community lived in the area between the 8th and 10th centuries. A multi-isotope approach has been used to investigate the mobility and diet of this medieval Muslim population living in a shifting f...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Guede Sagastizabal, Iranzu Laura, Ortega Cuesta, Luis Ángel, Zuluaga Ibargallartu, María Cruz, Alonso Olazabal, Ainhoa, Murelaga Bereicua, Javier, Pina, Miriam, Gutierrez, Francisco Javier, Iacumin, Paola
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2017
País:España
Institución:Universidad del País Vasco
Repositorio:Addi. Archivo Digital para la Docencia y la Investigación
OAI Identifier:oai:addi.ehu.eus:10810/27495
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10810/27495
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:biologically available strontium
bone-collagen
stable nitrogen
oxygen isotopes
tooth enamel
trophic level
ratios
carbon
sr-87/sr-86
migration
Descripción
Sumario:The Islamic necropolis discovered in Tauste (Zaragoza, Spain) is the only evidence that a large Muslim community lived in the area between the 8th and 10th centuries. A multi-isotope approach has been used to investigate the mobility and diet of this medieval Muslim population living in a shifting frontier region. Thirty-one individuals were analyzed to determine delta N-15, delta C-13, delta O-18 and Sr-87/Sr-86 composition. A combination of strontium and oxygen isotope analysis indicated that most individuals were of local origin although three females and two males were non-local. The non-local males would be from a warmer zone whereas two of the females would be from a more mountainous geographical region and the third from a geologically-different area. The extremely high delta(15) N baseline at Tauste was due to bedrock composition (gypsum and salt). High individual delta(15) N values were related to the manuring effect and consumption of fish. Adult males were the most privileged members of society in the medieval Muslim world and, as isotope data reflected, consumed more animal proteins than females and young males.