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Journals / Eurasian Journal of Anthropology / 2025 / Volume: 15 Issue: 2

Dietary habits in the Byzantine Western Anatolia: a stable isotope examination of Adramytteion skeletons

Ayşegül Şahin(İSTANBUL ÜNİVERSİTESİ)
Derya Atamtürk(İSTANBUL ÜNİVERSİTESİ, EDEBİYAT FAKÜLTESİ, ANTROPOLOJİ BÖLÜMÜ)
Turhan Doğan0000-0002-1917-8437
İzzet Duyar(İSTANBUL ÜNİVERSİTESİ, EDEBİYAT FAKÜLTESİ, ANTROPOLOJİ BÖLÜMÜ)0000-0002-4578-0528
Pages
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Publication Date
2025-12-31
DOI
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Statistical analysis of the wide distribution range observed between δ15N values revealed a significant relationship between age group and dietary habits.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This study aims to focus on the dietary habits of the inhabitants of Adramytteion (Burhaniye, Balıkesir), located within the borders of today's Anatolia and inhabited during the Early/Middle Byzantine Period, in order to identify the predominant food preferences of these people in the period and geography in which they lived, shed light on their subsistence economy, and analyze how this was reflected in their nutrition and lifestyle.
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Key Findings & Data:The material for the study consists of 23 adult individuals buried in graves located in Area C (Churches Area) and its surroundings.
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Conclusion & Impact:Statistical analysis of the wide distribution range observed between δ15N values revealed a significant relationship between age group and dietary habits.
🔬Design:Lab & Field Experiment
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Adramytteion · Byzantine · Stabil Isotope Analysis

Abstract

This study aims to focus on the dietary habits of the inhabitants of Adramytteion (Burhaniye, Balıkesir), located within the borders of today's Anatolia and inhabited during the Early/Middle Byzantine Period, in order to identify the predominant food preferences of these people in the period and geography in which they lived, shed light on their subsistence economy, and analyze how this was reflected in their nutrition and lifestyle. The material for the study consists of 23 adult individuals buried in graves located in Area C (Churches Area) and its surroundings. Individuals were selected criteria such as gender and age group. In the study, dietary habits were determined by measuring the δ13C and δ15N isotope analysis of bone collagen. Subsequently, attempts were made to determine social status differences between age and gender groups. Elemental Analysis-Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (EA-IRMS) was used for bone collagen isotope analysis measurements. The data obtained show that the δ13C values of adult individuals in Adramytteion range from a maximum of -18.5‰ to a minimum of -19.74‰, with an average of -19.23‰; δ15N values range from a maximum of 10.77‰ to a minimum of 7.17‰, with an average of 9.35‰. These data indicate that the Adramytteion community was primarily fed by terrestrial C3 plants and animals. The difference between the minimum and maximum values for δ13C and δ15N is 1.24‰ and 3.6‰, respectively. Statistical analysis of the wide distribution range observed between δ15N values revealed a significant relationship between age group and dietary habits.

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Cite This Article

Şahin, A., Atamtürk, D., Doğan, T., Duyar, İ. (2025). Dietary habits in the Byzantine Western Anatolia: a stable isotope examination of Adramytteion skeletons. Eurasian Journal of Anthropology, Volume: 15 Issue: 2. https://ajindex.com/articles/1585462

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