Social status in late medieval and early modern Brittany: insights from stable isotope analysis

• DOI: 10.1007/s12520-017-0547-9
• Publication Date: 2017-12-01T10:24:26Z
• Authors: Rozenn Colleter; Benoît Clavel; Anita Pietrzak; Sylvie Duchesne; Ludovic Schmitt; Michael P. Richards; Norbert Telmon; Éric Crubézy; Klervia Jaouen
• Keywords: Isotope Analysis; Isotopes of nitrogen; δ34S; Fifteenth; Grave goods

We document for the first time diet of a privileged French population from Brittany, region that was center battles between Kingdoms England and France until end fifteenth century. present here results stable isotope analyses carbon, nitrogen, sulfur human animal bone tooth collagen late medieval to early modern Breton population. The isotopic values observed Dominican convent Rennes, are very similar those reported archaeological populations in Great Britain, namely they have enriched δ15N combined with almost entirely terrestrial carbon signals. discuss consumption young animals made up terrestrial, marine, freshwater resources. report dietary differences socio-economic groups gender, women nobles (male female) showing patterns consistent high product lower mobility. S ratios both humans fauna homogeneous generally coastal δ34S values. is known been an interregional pilgrimage site during period, but indicate identified migrants were not pilgrims. Stable analysis therefore complements available historical information on diets