Managing crops under hydroclimatic instability before the 5.9 ka event

Stable isotope and radiocarbon evidence from the Sultana tell (Romania)

Bibliographic Data

ID19228729
AuthorsAna García-Vázquez (0000-0002-9041-4148, University of Bucharest, corresponding author), Mihaela Golea (0009-0008-4264-9779, Romanian Academy), Petra Coman (University of Bucharest), Frank Schlütz (0000-0003-2114-8146, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel), Wiebke Kirleis (0000-0003-0229-8958, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel), Johannes Müller (0000-0002-3538-197X, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel), Catalin Lazar (0000-0001-7559-1843, University of Bucharest)
Year2026
Volume4
Issue2
Pages100108-100108
Publication date2026-05-14
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueQuaternary Environments and Humans (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2950-2365 • E-ISSN: 2950-2365
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.qeh.2026.100108
OpenAlexW7161108417
LanguageEN
References cited72

This paper presents new stable isotope data from charred cereal grains and Chenopodium album seeds recovered from the Kodjadermen-Gumelniţa-Karanovo VI (KGK VI) (second half of the 5th millennium BC) settlement of Sultana in southeastern Romania, alongside comparative material from the nearby site of Gumelnița. This period coincides with mid-Holocene climatic instability in the lower Danube region (c. late 5th–early 4th millennium BC), frequently linked to episodes of reduced effective moisture and heightened drought risk. Through the analysis of δ 1 3C and δ 1 5N values, in combination with radiocarbon dating, we assess crop water availability and soil fertility over a ∼340-year period (4672–4329 cal BC), providing new insights into past agricultural practices and environmental conditions. The isotopic results reveal broadly similar agricultural strategies at both sites. At Gumelnița, proximity to the Danube floodplain likely enabled periodic soil enrichment through seasonal flooding, potentially enhancing crop yields. In contrast, the Sultana site, located near the Mostiștea River, shows slightly lower mean δ 1 5N values in both crops and the herbivore baseline, suggesting less organic input from the river. δ 1 3C values suggest broadly stable water availability over time, although the earlier phases of the sequence may reflect more favourable growing conditions. The isotopic composition of C. album suggests growth under well-watered conditions with substantial organic matter input, consistent with environments near riverbanks. However, whether this species was actively cultivated or opportunistically gathered remains unclear. These findings contribute to a broader understanding of Chalcolithic agricultural strategies in the Lower Danube region, highlighting the adaptive responses of past communities to local environmental conditions.

Carbon fibers · Climate change · Instability · Isotope · Radiocarbon dating · Stability (learning theory) · Stable isotope ratio · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Geology and Paleoclimatology Research · Marine and environmental studies