Isotopic Evidence for Breastfeeding and Possible Adult Dietary Differences from Late/Sub-Roman Britain
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 8317303 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Benjamin T Fuller (0000-0002-5989-8121, University of Oxford, corresponding author), T I Molleson, Theya Molleson (Natural History Museum), David A Harris (0000-0001-5588-1632, University of Oxford), L T Gilmour, R E M Hedges (Oxford Archaeology) |
| Year | 2006 |
| Volume | 129 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 45-54 |
| Publication date | 2006-01-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | American Journal of Physical Anthropology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0002-9483 • E-ISSN: 1096-8644 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1002/ajpa.20244 |
| PMID | 16229026 |
| OpenAlex | W2048928870 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 147 |
| References cited | 65 |
Historical documents indicate that breastfeeding and weaning practices have fluctuated in England through history. In order to obtain evidence for general breastfeeding patterns in Late/Sub-Roman Britain, stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values were measured in juvenile and adult skeletons (n = 87) from the cemetery of Queenford Farm, Dorchester-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. As the site contained few individuals between 0-1.5 years of age, it was not possible to determine the initial timing for the introduction of weaning foods. Between ages 2-4 years, the mean +/- SD delta(13)C results (-20.2 +/- 0.3 per thousand) are significantly more negative (t = -4.03, P < 0.001) compared to adult females (-19.7 +/- 0.3 per thousand). This is interpreted as evidence of a different diet being fed to children during weaning. After age 2, the delta(15)N values gradually decline, indicating complete cessation of breastfeeding by 3-4 years. Among adults, stature (males = 1.68 +/- 0.06 m; females = 1.58 +/- 0.07 m) and sexual dimorphism (106) were low, suggesting that the population was possibly under environmental stress. The delta(13)C results for adults are similar, but females show a small but statistically significantly (t = -2.86, P < 0.01) lower mean delta(15)N value (9.9 +/- 0.9 per thousand) compared to males (10.6 +/- 0.5 per thousand). These lower female delta(15)N values possibly reflect the different physiology of the sexes (pregnancy and/or lactation) or the reduced consumption of animal/fish protein by women, and this may have been influenced by individual preference, family needs, or societal values of the era
Animal science · Biology · Breastfeeding · Juvenile · Lactation · Population · Pregnancy · Sexual dimorphism · Weaning · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Demography · Ecology · Endocrinology · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Isotope Analysis in Ecology · Medicine · Pediatrics
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| Unique citing works | 147 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 7,74 |
| Citation span | 2007 - 2026 (20) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | Yes |
| Citation types | Neutral: 143 |