Paper short abstract:

The diversity of breastfeeding and weaning practices at the historical periods is mainly documented from historical, demographic or archaeological data. Nevertheless, the analysis of the isotopic ratios of nitrogen contained in the bone collagens of the children can inform us about the food modifications during the moments which preceded their death. It is thus possible to highlight the changes in mother's milk consumption.

Paper long abstract:

The diversity of breastfeeding and weaning practices at the historical periods is mainly documented from historical, demographic or archaeological data. Nevertheless, the analysis of the isotopic ratios of nitrogen contained in the bone collagens of the children can inform us about the food modifications during the moments which preceded their death. It is thus possible to highlight the changes in mother's milk consumption.

Using skeletal material, this communication aims to determine the evolution of weaning practices in medieval and early modern Europe. After a description of the methodology implemented to detect the food changes during the first years of the life, we will present results obtained from 92 infants, aged between 0,5-5 years and coming from French and Czech archaeological sites.

The isotopic results attest of a mosaic of food behaviors. Whereas for the Late Middle Ages, only one practical is distinguished with a late weaning around 2,5 years, for the Early Middle Ages and the Modern Period, two practices were highlighted, one with children weaned before the age of 2 and the other with children still nursed beyond 3 years. If this double practice could be explained by the more frequent use of the nurses at the modern time, other factors must be evoked for Early Middle Ages, for example the influence of the religion. To propose biological and/or economic factors which may have been responsible for applied weaning practices, isotopic results will be placed against the archaeological, anthropological and palaeopathological data.