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http://dx.doi.org/10.5806/AST.2019.32.6.262

Isotopic palaeodiet studies of human bone from Gyeongju Donggung Palace and Wolji pond site (pond No.3), Goryeo period  

Choe, Hyeon Goo (Conservation Science Division, Nation Research Institute of Cultural Heritage)
Shin, Ji Young (Conservation Science Division, Nation Research Institute of Cultural Heritage)
Publication Information
Analytical Science and Technology / v.32, no.6, 2019 , pp. 262-270 More about this Journal
Abstract
The stable isotopic composition of bone collagen plays an important role in reconstructing palaeodiet, nutrition, palaeoenvironment and their lifestyle. This is the first case in extracting palaeodietary information and breastfeeding pattern of Goryeo people using stable isotope analysis due to the lack of human remains in this period. We analyzed human bone collagen excavated from Gyeongju Donggung palace and Wolji pond No.3. The average values of δ13C and δ15N are as follows: (δ13C(‰) = -19.5 ± 0.9‰, δ15N(‰) = 11.1 ± 1.1 ‰, (n = 4). Stable carbon isotope values shows a mainly C3 based diet such as rice and barley. Stable nitrogen isotope results implies the protein sources attributed to terrestrial animals. There are various age groups in this study, which are adult, child and infant. Two individuals within early childhood age ranges (< 3 years) shows more elevated δ15N values than that of adult and this result implies the continuation of breastfeeding in this group until the age of 3. The results provide new insight into the breastfeeding pattern of Goryeo people, where breastfeeding and weaning practices have important implication for fertility, population dynamics, migration pattern and disease.
Keywords
human bone; stable isotope; palaeodiet; gyeongju; donggung palace; wolji pond; goryeo;
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