Paper short abstract:

This paper presents a general view of stable isotope and anthropological researches on human dietary practices during Prehistory, specifically in Northwestern Mediterranean at the beginning of agriculture and herding. Specific cases on Neolithic and Bronze Age in France and Italy are further discussed.

Paper long abstract:

This paper presents a general overview of stable isotope and anthropological researches on human dietary practices during Prehistory, specifically in Northwestern Mediterranean at the beginning of agriculture and herding. For few decades until now physical anthropology has investigated human food studying directly human remains. Biogeochemical analysis of bone collagen and/or minerals preserved in ancient skeletal remains represent a direct scientific method to investigate the diet of past populations. This approach allows to obtain individual information about environmental exploitation (e.g. C3 versus C4 plants), energy and protein intake (e.g. vegetal versus meat). Osteological records (as oral pathologies), environmental (animal and botanical remains) and archaeological context (funeral practices) combined with these data brought to light food patterns that are different according to the region and economic activities during Neolithic. Specific case studies carried out on Neolithic and Bronze Age populations in France and Italy are further discussed. They show (1) the relative absence of fish consumption along the Mediterranean coast at the beginning of sedentarization and animal and plant domestication, (2) different protein and meat intakes according to the location of human group and funeral practices, (3) the wider female dietary variability during Neolithic, (4) the absence of millet consumption at the beginning of Bronze Age and subsequently geographic and chronological introduction of this C4 plant in human diet. In particular, Italian Bronze Age sites have revealed different food habits, with the presence of specialized crops at very early phases. Intrasite differences are also indicative of social complexity and closer cultural influences.