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This paper deals with the reliability of human bone as material for radiocarbon dating, and the connection with the types of food eaten by the people in question. Non-terrestrial food, such as fish and shellfish, causes radiocarbon ages of human bone collagen to be too old, because of the so-called reservoir effects in water. In particular, these reservoir effects can be large in rivers. By measuring https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"> δ 13 C and https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"> δ 15 N in bone collagen, the consumption of non-terrestrial food can be traced (paleo-diet studies). Examples of reservoir effect are shown in historically dated persons, and in some prehistoric populations. In particular, medieval human bone should be considered an unreliable material for radiocarbon dating.