δ13C and δ15N studies of prehistoric diet. Recent applications and developments

Abstract

^{The analysis of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in studies of prehistoric diet is described and some recent applications and developments reviewed. It is concluded that this has now become an established method, and a very powerful tool when studying several aspects of prehistoric society, such as mobility, dietary transitions, gender relations, social complexity, geographical adaptations, etc. Future prospects include the combined use of molecular sex determinations and stable isotopes to study gender differences within and between populations.}