Diet, DNA, and the Mesolithic–Neolithic Transition in Western Scotland
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6014721 |
|---|---|
| Authors | C Pickard (0000-0002-0989-9361, University of Edinburgh), Eran Greenberg (0000-0002-1630-0628, University of Edinburgh), Elizabeth Greenberg, E Baldwin Smith (University of Edinburgh), Emma Smith (0009-0005-3138-8727), Andy Barlow (University of Edinburgh), Clive Bonsall (0000-0003-0243-3232, University of Edinburgh) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 5 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 8-8 |
| Publication date | 2025-03-17 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Humans (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2673-9461 • E-ISSN: 2673-9461 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT) |
| DOI | 10.3390/humans5010008 |
| OpenAlex | W4408517567 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 93 |
In this paper, we revisit the Mesolithic–Neolithic transition in western Scotland and the links between early European farmers and middens in light of new aDNA, radiocarbon, and stable isotopic evidence. New carbon and nitrogen stable isotopic data for food sources (plant and animal remains) from a Mesolithic site are presented, and dietary FRUITS models are recalculated based on these data. We also respond to recent criticisms of the Bayesian approach to diet reconstruction. Results support the view that Neolithic people had at most a minimal contribution of marine foods in their diet and also point to a dual population model of transition in western Scotland. A significant aspect of the transition in coastal western Scotland is the co-occurrence of Neolithic human remains with shell-midden deposits, which appears to contradict stable isotopic evidence indicating a minimal contribution of marine resources to the diet of early farming communities in the region. Finally, we highlight the need for further research to fully address these issues, including (1) targeted isotopic analyses of potential plant and animal resources, (2) single-entity radiocarbon and ZooMS analyses of animal bones and artefacts from shell middens, and (3) further aDNA analyses of the remains of Late Mesolithic and Neolithic people
Ancient history · Archaeology · Geography · Mesolithic · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · History · Isotope Analysis in Ecology · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
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| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |