Diet and subsistence in the Anglo-Saxon Trent Valley: a stable isotope investigation of Broughton

156 Pages·2017·4.6 MB·English

by  Christine Middleton

UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM

Department of Archaeology

‘Diet and Subsistence in the Anglo-Saxon Trent Valley:
A Stable Isotope Investigation of Broughton Lodge Anglo-Saxon
Cemetery, Nottinghamshire’

Fiona Moore

Module V64060

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Dissertation presented for MSc (by Research) in Archaeology,
September 2017
I certify that:
a) The following dissertation is all my own original work
b) The source of all non-original material is clearly indicated
c) All material presented by me for other modules is clearly indicated
d) All assistance received has been acknowledged

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Abstract
Stable isotope analysis was carried out on a small sample population from Broughton
Lodge Anglo-Saxon cemetery, Nottinghamshire. The cemetery dates to the late 5th to
the early 7th centuries AD, and is located in the Trent valley, which was the centre of
the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia. The broad aim was to investigate diet,
subsistence, and breastfeeding and weaning practices.
Rib bone and permanent second molar and premolar dentine collagen was sampled
from six individuals from the cemetery population, to investigate the adult and
childhood diets of the Broughton Lodge population. Incremental dentine analysis
was carried out on the permanent first molars of two of the individuals, to investigate
breastfeeding and weaning practices amongst the population.
The results have shown that the diet of the Broughton Lode population was very
similar to that at other Anglo-Saxon sites in England, comprised primarily of
terrestrial animal protein with some amounts of freshwater fish. There was no
significant difference in basic protein sources noted between adult and childhood
diet.
The results of the incremental analyses were inconclusive. A definite breastfeeding
and weaning signal could not be inferred for either individual, although several
observations were made.
The research has highlighted the need for further stable isotope studies in the Trent
valley focussing on the Anglo-Saxon period.

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Acknowledgments
Sincere thanks are due to:
My supervisors, Dr Hannah O’Regan and Dr Chrysanthi Gallou, for the continued
support and guidance throughout the academic year.
Dr Christopher Loveluck, for his advice and guidance on all things Anglo-Saxon
Dr Angela Lamb, at the NERC Stable Isotope Facility for the training and guidance
provided throughout the sample preparation and isotope analyses, and for
excellent feedback on several elements of the thesis.
Dr Clare Pickersgill and Dr Diane Wren at the University of Nottingham Museum,
and Ann Inscker at the Museum of Nottingham Life, for allowing me to sample the
Broughton Lodge assemblage, and for assisting with the sorting of the remains.
And finally, Dr Mark Sergeant, for pulling me back from the brink of insanity on an
almost daily basis.

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Contents

Abstract .................................................................................... 3

Acknowledgments .................................................................... 4

Contents ................................................................................... 5

List of Figures ............................................................................ 7

List of Tables ........................................................................... 11

1. Introduction .................................................................... 12

2. Background ......................................................................... 15

Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 15
Scientific Theory ................................................................................................................. 15
Materials ............................................................................................................................ 27
Previous Isotope Work on Anglo-Saxon Diet ..................................................................... 34
3. Methodology ...................................................................... 35

Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 35
The Site .............................................................................................................................. 35
The Sample ......................................................................................................................... 44
Materials Sampled ............................................................................................................. 51
Sample Preparation ........................................................................................................... 55
Mass Spectrometry ............................................................................................................ 61
4. Results ................................................................................ 64

Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 64
Preservation of the Material .............................................................................................. 64
Summary of Results ........................................................................................................... 68
5. Discussion ........................................................................... 82

The General Diet of the Broughton Lodge Population ...................................................... 82
The Wider Geographical Context ....................................................................................... 90
Social Influence in Dietary Variation ................................................................................ 101
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Breast-feeding and Weaning at Broughton Lodge .......................................................... 105
6. Conclusions ....................................................................... 110

Recommendations for Further Research ......................................................................... 111
Appendix 1 ............................................................................ 113

Appendix 2 ............................................................................ 126

Appendix 3 ............................................................................ 136

Bibliography .......................................................................... 142

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List of Figures
Figure 2.1………………………The carbon cycle
Figure 2.2……………………… Relative ranges of δ13C values recorded for C3 and C4 plants
Figure 2.3………………………Relative ranges of δ13C values recorded for C3, C4 and
Marine plants
Figure 2.4……………………… A simplified version of the Terrestrial Nitrogen Cycle
Figure 2.5……………………..Section through a molar showing direction of dentine
development
Figure 2.6………………………Diagram showing increments of dentine and their relative
ages of formation
Figure 3.1………………………Location of the Broughton Lodge site within the UK and
Nottinghamshire
Figure 3.2………………………Plan of the Broughton Lodge site, showing areas excavated
by M.J. Dean in 1964-68
Figure 3.3…………………….Cemetery plan showing distribution and orientation of
burials, and projected line of Roman road
Figure 3.4…………………….Great square-headed brooch recovered from Burial 16,
broadly similar to a group dating to 510-550AD
Figure 3.5……………………..Pair of disc brooches recovered from Burial 35, similar to a
group whose main period of use was 450-550AD
Figure 3.6…………………….White metal scutiform pendant recovered from Burial
56/66, similar to a type dating to the 7th century AD
Figure 3.7………………………M.J. Dean’s original field drawing of Burial 103/104
Figure 3.8………………………Plan of BLE26
Figure 3.9………………………Plan of BLE48
Figure 3.10…………………….Plan of BLE65 and BLE66
Figure 3.11…………………….Plan of BLE103 and BLE104
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Figure 3.12……………………..Molar sectioned for incremental dentine analysis
Figure 3.13………………….....Drilled powder dentine and enamel fragments
Figure 3.14……………………..Preparation of rib material
Figure 3.15……………………..Filtration and washing of demineralised bone collagen
Figure 3.16……………………..Weighed samples in tin capsules, placed into sample tray
Figure 3.17……………………..View from above of some of the weighed samples in tin
capsules, showing their positions in the sample tray
Figure 3.18…………………….Elemental analyser (Flash/EA) coupled to a Thermo
Finnigan DeltaPlus XL isotope ratio mass spectrometer
used to carry out the analysis
Figure 3.19………………………View of the autosampler carousel from above
Figure 4.1…………………………δ13C and δ15N values obtained from bulk dentine collagen
analyses
Figure 4.2………………………..δ13C and δ15N values obtained from bulk bone collagen
analyses
Figure 4.3………………………..δ13C values for incremental analysis of BLE26
Figure 4.4………………………..δ15N values for incremental analysis of BLE26
Figure 4.5………………………..δ13C and δ15N values for incremental analysis of BLE26
Figure 4.6………………………..δ13C values for incremental analysis of BLE66
Figure 4.7………………………..δ15N values for incremental analysis of BLE66
Figure 4.8………………………. δ13C and δ15N values for incremental analysis of BLE66.
Figure 4.9………………………..δ15N values for incremental analysis of BLE26 and BLE66
Figure 4.10………………………δ13C values for incremental analysis of BLE26 and BLE66
Figure 4.11………………………BLE66 LM1 Incremental and bulk dentine δ15N values
Figure 4.12………………………BLE66 LM1 Incremental and bulk dentine δ13C values
Figure 5.1………………………..Location map of archaeological sites from which faunal
data included in this analysis has been published.
Broughton Lodge shown for reference
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Figure 5.2…………………………Box chart showing possible indicative ranges of δ13C and
δ15N for human bone collagen based on protein source
with Broughton Lodge data shown
Figure 5.3………………………….Location map of archaeological sites from which human
data has been derived for this study. Broughton Lodge
shown for reference
Figure 5.4…………………………Mean δ13C and δ15N values obtained from bulk bone
collagen analyses at Anglo-Saxon sites across England,
organised by topographical location
Figure 5.5………………………….Ranges of δ13C values from Anglo-Saxon sites in England,
organised according to topographical group
Figure 5.6………………………….Ranges of δ15N values from Anglo-Saxon sites in England,
organised according to topographical group
Figure 5.7………………………….Mean δ13C and δ15N values obtained from bulk bone
collagen analyses at Anglo-Saxon sites across England,
organised according to region
Figure 5.8…………………………..Ranges of δ13C values from Anglo-Saxon sites in England,
organised according to region
Figure 5.9…………………………..Ranges of δ15N values from Anglo-Saxon sites in England,
organised according to region
Figure 5.9…………………………..Mean δ13C and δ15N values obtained from M2 and P2
bulk dentine collagen analyses at Anglo-Saxon sites in
England, organised according to topographical group
Figure 5.10………………………..Ranges of δ13C values obtained from M2 and P2 bulk
dentine collagen analyses at Anglo-Saxon sites in
England, organised according to topographical group
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Figure 5.11………………………..Ranges of δ15N values obtained from M2 and P2 bulk
dentine collagen analyses at Anglo-Saxon sites in
England, organised according to topographical group
Figure 5.12……………………….δ13C and δ15N values from Broughton Lodge bone and
dentine collagen samples, with ages represented by
each sample shown
Figure 5.13………………………..Indicative isotopic profile reflecting weaning in children,
as compiled from bone collagen analyses

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