Paleodietary analysis on the prehistoric population of El Hierro (Canary Islands)

In order to deepen our knowledge of the dietary habits of the prehispanic inhabitants of El Hierro, we have determined bone strontium (Sr), manganese (Mn), magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and calcium (Ca) in 52 human tibiae (23 belonging to male and 20 to female individuals) buried in a sing...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological trace element research 1997-12, Vol.59 (1/3), p.207-213
Main Authors: Velasco-Vasquez, J, Arnay-De-La-Rosa, M, Gonzalez-Reimers, E, Hernandez-Torres, O
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Archaeological sites
Archaeology
Atlantic Islands
Bone and Bones - chemistry
Bones
Calcium
Copper
DIET
DIETA
Female
Females
Herbivores
Hominids
Humans
Islands
Magnesium
Male
Manganese
Minerals - analysis
PALAEONTOLOGY
PALEONTOLOGIA
PALEONTOLOGIE
Paleontology
Prehistoric era
REGIME ALIMENTAIRE
Strontium
Trace elements
Vegetarian diet
Vegetarianism
Zinc
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Summary:In order to deepen our knowledge of the dietary habits of the prehispanic inhabitants of El Hierro, we have determined bone strontium (Sr), manganese (Mn), magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and calcium (Ca) in 52 human tibiae (23 belonging to male and 20 to female individuals) buried in a single burial cave; in 21 modern individuals who served as controls; and in 11 bones of herbivores found at archeological sites of the Canary Islands. Results suggest that females consumed a more vegetarian diet, although site-corrected Sr/Ca ratio of both males and females speaks for a mixed-diet consumption.
ISSN:0163-4984
1559-0720
DOI:10.1007/BF02783246