Scientific article
English

Who's been using my burial mound? Radiocarbon dating and isotopic tracing of human diet and mobility at the collective burial site, Le Tumulus des Sables, southwest France

Published inJournal of Archaeological Science: Reports, vol. 24, p. 955-966
Publication date2019
Abstract

The burial mound of Le Tumulus des Sables, southwest France, contains archaeological artefacts spanning from the Neolithic to the Iron Age. Human remains have been found throughout the burial mound, however their highly fragmented state complicates the association between the burial mound structure and the archaeological material. Radiocarbon dating and isotopic analyses of human teeth have been used to investigate the chronology, diet and mobility of the occupants. Radiocarbon dating shows that the site was used for burials from the Neolithic to Iron Age, consistent with the range of archaeological artefacts recovered. δ13C and δ15N values (from dentine collagen) suggest a predominately terrestrial diet for the population, unchanging through time. 87Sr/86Sr (on enamel and dentine) and δ18O (on enamel) values are consistent with occupation of the surrounding region, with one individual having a δ18O value consistent with a childhood spent elsewhere, in a colder climate region. These results showcase the complex reuse of this burial mound by a mostly local population over a period of about 2000 years.

Keywords
  • Archéologie
  • Bioanthropologie
  • Paléoalimentation
  • Mobilité
  • Datation
  • Dents
  • Campaniforme
  • Néolithique
  • Sépulture
  • Tumulus
  • Géochimie isotopique
Citation (ISO format)
JAMES, Hannah F. et al. Who’s been using my burial mound? Radiocarbon dating and isotopic tracing of human diet and mobility at the collective burial site, Le Tumulus des Sables, southwest France. In: Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2019, vol. 24, p. 955–966. doi: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2019.03.012
Main files (1)
Article (Published version)
accessLevelRestricted
Identifiers
Journal ISSN2352-409X
509views
0downloads

Technical informations

Creation26/03/2019 12:06:00
First validation26/03/2019 12:06:00
Update time15/03/2023 17:03:05
Status update15/03/2023 17:03:04
Last indexation31/10/2024 14:02:56
All rights reserved by Archive ouverte UNIGE and the University of GenevaunigeBlack