Stone Age hunter–fisher–gatherers at Zvejnieki, northern Latvia

• DOI: 10.3828/bfarm.2003.1.2
• Publication Date: 2014-08-06T21:18:35Z
• Authors: Gunilla Eriksson; Lembi Lõugas; Ilga Zagorska
• Keywords: Hunter-gatherer; Stone Age; Mesolithic

The Zvejnieki Stone Age1 complex in northern Latvia includes one of the most significant hunter–fisher–gatherer cemeteries Europe terms both exceptional number individuals buried there and extremely long period use: more than 300 interred over a at least four millennia. New results archaeozoological studies palaeodiet investigations performed on human remains are presented here, together with 18 new radiocarbon dates. It is clear from stable isotope analyses that people were heavily reliant freshwater fish until end Early Neolithic, when consumption declined somewhat, although it still made an important contribution to diet. Late Neolithic Corded Ware flexed burials elsewhere show distinct dietary pattern, pointing towards animal husbandry. faunal found settlement layers confirm trends revealed by bone chemistry, where...