Sequential dentine δ13C and δ15N analysis of Islamic burials from medieval Al-Andalus

Journal article

As a mixed society in which Muslims, Christians and Jews coexisted, the cultural landscape of medieval Al-Andalus offers considerable potential for study. As a contribution to this rich field, this paper explores the impact of social and religious differences on childhood dietary life histories. To achieve this, we apply the first carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of sequential dentine for the medieval Al-Andalus region. The first molars of 11 individuals from two sites in northeastern Spain, Balaguer (urban Muslim cemetery, 8th-12th) and Santa Coloma d’Àger (rural Christian necropolis, 6th-11th), were analysed, from which details of weaning practices and childhood diets were reconstructed, and food consumption patterns by sex, age, religion and setting (urban/rural) were examined. The results indicate a preference for C3-based foods such as wheat and barley in early child-rearing practices for both Muslims and Christians, with C4-foods occasionally consumed. No significant gender differences were observed. Nevertheless, differences between the urban Balaguer and rural Santa Coloma d’Àger highlight the critical role of socioeconomic factors and resource accessibility. The more consistent reliance on C3-based foods and higher δ15N values at Balaguer likely reflect greater food availability and/or different agricultural practices associated with an urban setting. In contrast, Santa Coloma d’Àger's rural background may have led to a stronger dependence on locally available resources, sometimes overriding even religious dietary norms, reflecting the interplay of societal structure and contextual constraints in medieval Al-Andalus.

Authors: Tian, H; Olivé-Busom, J; Czermak, A; Schulting, RJ

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Journal: Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports
• Volume: 62
• Article number: 104958
• Publication date: 2025-01-26
• Acceptance date: 2024-12-23
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104958
• EISSN: 2352-4103
• ISSN: 2352-409X
• Language: English