Dietary aspects of the West Lithuanian people during the Late Roman and Early Migration periods with reference to household and funerary pottery

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Buitiniai indai; Buitinė keramika; Dieta; Laidotuvių puodai; Mityba; Organinės liekanos; Stabilieji izotopai; Stabilūs izotopai; Vakarų Lietuva; Įkapinė keramika; Diet; Funerary pots; Household vessels; Organic residue; Stable isotopes; West Lithuania.

ENThis study presents the results of an integrated interdisciplinary investigations of residue of charred organic material or food crusts adhered on inner pottery surface which are a valuable source of information on people’s diets. FTIR and isotope ratio mass spectrometry were employed to analyse household vessels and miniature pots made to be buried with the dead during the period between the 3rd to the middle of 5th century in western Lithuania. ‘13C isotope analysis shows a considerable difference between the residue from household and funerary pottery. ‘13C isotope ratios in the samples from miniature pots vary from‰−28.0‰‰ to‰−28.8‰‰. Isotope values in a relatively narrow range indicate that organic material present in the pots was of similar origin. ‘13C isotope ratio values allow to suggest that funerary miniature pots might have been filled with beer made from barley and/or oats. ‘15N isotope value (‘15N=8.0‰‰) and C–O group carboxyl group as well as polysaccharides indicate presence of proteins in miniature pots, thus it can be suggested that pots were filled with fermented milk-based beverage. Miniature pots were placed in burials and filled with a symbolic amount (40/50 to 100‰ml) of beer, or milk-based, fermented beverages. Carbon isotope ratio of household vessels, varied from‰−23.9‰‰ to‰−27.9‰‰ which suggests a diet based on C3 type cereals. ‘15N values retrieved from organic residue range between 3.1‰ to 9.9‰, as such indicating that herbivores and omnivores were also used in people’s diets. To sum up, the analysis clearly shows that food consumed was of terrestrial origin, coming from agriculture and animal breeding. [From the publication]