Abstract
We report on a stable isotope paleodietary reconstruction of Jomon populations in Japan during the Middle to Final Jomon period (ca. 5000-2300 years BP), focusing on dietary differences within and among populations and between regions. Carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis was performed on human and faunal bone collagen from six coastal sites along the Inland Sea in the Sanyo (Ota, Funamoto, and Tsukumo) region and along Mikawa Bay and the Pacific Ocean in the Tokai (Kawaji, Yoshigo, and Inariyama) region. We found that carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios were positively correlated, indicating that the Jomon people consumed a mixed diet of marine (shellfish and marine fish) and terrestrial (C3 plants and terrestrial mammals) protein. In the Ota samples (n=25, during the Middle Jomon period, 5000-4000 years BP), sex was one of the main reasons for the intra-population dietary variation. Ota males consumed greater amounts of marine food, while Ota females consumed greater amounts of terrestrial food; these dissimilar diets may have been related to the sexual division of labor. Significant inter-population dietary differences were found, which may have been related to differences in age or site location. Notably, the two coastal regions showed clear isotopic differences. Nitrogen isotope ratios of individuals from the Sanyo region were significantly higher than ratios of individuals from the Tokai region. The individuals in the Sanyo region might have consumed a diet high in aquatic foods, particularly high trophic level marine fish, whereas the individuals in the Tokai region might have consumed a lot of marine shellfish. Another possible reason for the regional isotopic difference might have been different baseline of nitrogen isotope ratios of the marine ecosystems.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1968-1977 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Journal of Archaeological Science |
| Volume | 37 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Aug 2010 |
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Keywords
- Carbon
- Human bone collagen
- Hunter-gatherers
- Jomon period
- Nitrogen
- Stable isotope
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- History
- Archaeology
Cite this
Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis on the diet of Jomon populations from two coastal regions of Japan. / Kusaka, Soichiro; Hyodo, Fujio; Yumoto, Takakazu; Nakatsukasa, Masato.
In: Journal of Archaeological Science, Vol. 37, No. 8, 08.2010, p. 1968-1977.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis on the diet of Jomon populations from two coastal regions of Japan
AU - Kusaka, Soichiro
AU - Hyodo, Fujio
AU - Yumoto, Takakazu
AU - Nakatsukasa, Masato
PY - 2010/8
Y1 - 2010/8
N2 - We report on a stable isotope paleodietary reconstruction of Jomon populations in Japan during the Middle to Final Jomon period (ca. 5000-2300 years BP), focusing on dietary differences within and among populations and between regions. Carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis was performed on human and faunal bone collagen from six coastal sites along the Inland Sea in the Sanyo (Ota, Funamoto, and Tsukumo) region and along Mikawa Bay and the Pacific Ocean in the Tokai (Kawaji, Yoshigo, and Inariyama) region. We found that carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios were positively correlated, indicating that the Jomon people consumed a mixed diet of marine (shellfish and marine fish) and terrestrial (C3 plants and terrestrial mammals) protein. In the Ota samples (n=25, during the Middle Jomon period, 5000-4000 years BP), sex was one of the main reasons for the intra-population dietary variation. Ota males consumed greater amounts of marine food, while Ota females consumed greater amounts of terrestrial food; these dissimilar diets may have been related to the sexual division of labor. Significant inter-population dietary differences were found, which may have been related to differences in age or site location. Notably, the two coastal regions showed clear isotopic differences. Nitrogen isotope ratios of individuals from the Sanyo region were significantly higher than ratios of individuals from the Tokai region. The individuals in the Sanyo region might have consumed a diet high in aquatic foods, particularly high trophic level marine fish, whereas the individuals in the Tokai region might have consumed a lot of marine shellfish. Another possible reason for the regional isotopic difference might have been different baseline of nitrogen isotope ratios of the marine ecosystems.
AB - We report on a stable isotope paleodietary reconstruction of Jomon populations in Japan during the Middle to Final Jomon period (ca. 5000-2300 years BP), focusing on dietary differences within and among populations and between regions. Carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis was performed on human and faunal bone collagen from six coastal sites along the Inland Sea in the Sanyo (Ota, Funamoto, and Tsukumo) region and along Mikawa Bay and the Pacific Ocean in the Tokai (Kawaji, Yoshigo, and Inariyama) region. We found that carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios were positively correlated, indicating that the Jomon people consumed a mixed diet of marine (shellfish and marine fish) and terrestrial (C3 plants and terrestrial mammals) protein. In the Ota samples (n=25, during the Middle Jomon period, 5000-4000 years BP), sex was one of the main reasons for the intra-population dietary variation. Ota males consumed greater amounts of marine food, while Ota females consumed greater amounts of terrestrial food; these dissimilar diets may have been related to the sexual division of labor. Significant inter-population dietary differences were found, which may have been related to differences in age or site location. Notably, the two coastal regions showed clear isotopic differences. Nitrogen isotope ratios of individuals from the Sanyo region were significantly higher than ratios of individuals from the Tokai region. The individuals in the Sanyo region might have consumed a diet high in aquatic foods, particularly high trophic level marine fish, whereas the individuals in the Tokai region might have consumed a lot of marine shellfish. Another possible reason for the regional isotopic difference might have been different baseline of nitrogen isotope ratios of the marine ecosystems.
KW - Carbon
KW - Human bone collagen
KW - Hunter-gatherers
KW - Jomon period
KW - Nitrogen
KW - Stable isotope
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77953961331&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77953961331&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jas.2010.03.002
DO - 10.1016/j.jas.2010.03.002
M3 - Article
VL - 37
SP - 1968
EP - 1977
JO - Journal of Archaeological Science
JF - Journal of Archaeological Science
SN - 0305-4403
IS - 8
ER -