Reconstructing Diets in Iron Age Ashkelon: A Stable Isotope Analysis

Diet can represent how different individuals within a population may be affected by famine, drought, or the fall of an empire. Bioarchaeologists observe patterns in human diet--and consequently, human experience--through generalized reconstructions of consumption via faunal and human skeletal remains. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes are an effective and accurate way of learning what past individuals consumed. By analyzing the stable carbon and nitrogen values derived from collagen in human bones, bioarchaeologists can ascertain the primary protein source of a person’s diet. This thesis used the theoretical framework of structural vulnerability and stable isotope analysis on secondary data to describe the diet of past individuals in Iron Age (1200-500 BC) Ashkelon (Southern Levant). In this study, it was hypothesized that adult estimated males and adult estimated females would not reflect a similar intake of dietary protein. In addition, individuals with grave goods were expected to be of higher societal importance and therefore have a higher intake of protein. Results indicated no significant differences between estimated female and male individuals on the carbon and nitrogen ratios during the Iron Age nor were there any differences on the carbon and nitrogen ratios depending on the presence or absence of grave goods. This lack of structural vulnerability present could be an indication of a higher standard of living within a city (Ashkelon).