A dietary perspective on Swedish hunter-gatherer and Neolithic populations. An analysis of stable isotopes and trace elements

Abstract

This paper discusses the effect of temporal trends and cultural patterns on diet, as opposed to the effect of availability of resources at the geographical location. A number of Swedish Stone Age skeleton populations, coastal and inland ranging from the Mesolithic to the Late Neolithic, have been analysed. The methods employed were stable isotope analysis (¹³C, ¹⁵N) and trace element analysis (Cu, Zn) on bone. No specific temporal trends could be identified, nor a cultural effect. A continued utilization of marine resources was identified in coastal areas, where the proximity to a lagoon seems to have been favoured. The geographical location seems to be one of the major determinants of the diet.