UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM Department of Archaeology ‘Diet and Subsistence in the Anglo-Saxon Trent Valley: A Stable Isotope Investigation of Broughton Lodge Anglo-Saxon Cemetery, Nottinghamshire’ Fiona Moore Module V64060 1 Dissertation presented for MSc (by Research) in Archaeology, September 2017 I certify that: a) The following dissertation is all my own original work b) The source of all non-original material is clearly indicated c) All material presented by me for other modules is clearly indicated d) All assistance received has been acknowledged 2 Abstract Stable isotope analysis was carried out on a small sample population from Broughton Lodge Anglo-Saxon cemetery, Nottinghamshire. The cemetery dates to the late 5th to the early 7th centuries AD, and is located in the Trent valley, which was the centre of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia. The broad aim was to investigate diet, subsistence, and breastfeeding and weaning practices. Rib bone and permanent second molar and premolar dentine collagen was sampled from six individuals from the cemetery population, to investigate the adult and childhood diets of the Broughton Lodge population. Incremental dentine analysis was carried out on the permanent first molars of two of the individuals, to investigate breastfeeding and weaning practices amongst the population. The results have shown that the diet of the Broughton Lode population was very similar to that at other Anglo-Saxon sites in England, comprised primarily of terrestrial animal protein with some amounts of freshwater fish. There was no significant difference in basic protein sources noted between adult and childhood diet. The results of the incremental analyses were inconclusive. A definite breastfeeding and weaning signal could not be inferred for either individual, although several observations were made. The research has highlighted the need for further stable isotope studies in the Trent valley focussing on the Anglo-Saxon period. 3 Acknowledgments Sincere thanks are due to: My supervisors, Dr Hannah O’Regan and Dr Chrysanthi Gallou, for the continued support and guidance throughout the academic year. Dr Christopher Loveluck, for his advice and guidance on all things Anglo-Saxon Dr Angela Lamb, at the NERC Stable Isotope Facility for the training and guidance provided throughout the sample preparation and isotope analyses, and for excellent feedback on several elements of the thesis. Dr Clare Pickersgill and Dr Diane Wren at the University of Nottingham Museum, and Ann Inscker at the Museum of Nottingham Life, for allowing me to sample the Broughton Lodge assemblage, and for assisting with the sorting of the remains. And finally, Dr Mark Sergeant, for pulling me back from the brink of insanity on an almost daily basis. 4 Contents Abstract .................................................................................... 3 Acknowledgments .................................................................... 4 Contents ................................................................................... 5 List of Figures ............................................................................ 7 List of Tables ........................................................................... 11 1. Introduction .................................................................... 12 2. Background ......................................................................... 15 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 15 Scientific Theory ................................................................................................................. 15 Materials ............................................................................................................................ 27 Previous Isotope Work on Anglo-Saxon Diet ..................................................................... 34 3. Methodology ...................................................................... 35 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 35 The Site .............................................................................................................................. 35 The Sample ......................................................................................................................... 44 Materials Sampled ............................................................................................................. 51 Sample Preparation ........................................................................................................... 55 Mass Spectrometry ............................................................................................................ 61 4. Results ................................................................................ 64 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 64 Preservation of the Material .............................................................................................. 64 Summary of Results ........................................................................................................... 68 5. Discussion ........................................................................... 82 The General Diet of the Broughton Lodge Population ...................................................... 82 The Wider Geographical Context ....................................................................................... 90 Social Influence in Dietary Variation ................................................................................ 101 5 Breast-feeding and Weaning at Broughton Lodge .......................................................... 105 6. Conclusions ....................................................................... 110 Recommendations for Further Research ......................................................................... 111 Appendix 1 ............................................................................ 113 Appendix 2 ............................................................................ 126 Appendix 3 ............................................................................ 136 Bibliography .......................................................................... 142 6 List of Figures Figure 2.1………………………The carbon cycle Figure 2.2……………………… Relative ranges of δ13C values recorded for C3 and C4 plants Figure 2.3………………………Relative ranges of δ13C values recorded for C3, C4 and Marine plants Figure 2.4……………………… A simplified version of the Terrestrial Nitrogen Cycle Figure 2.5……………………..Section through a molar showing direction of dentine development Figure 2.6………………………Diagram showing increments of dentine and their relative ages of formation Figure 3.1………………………Location of the Broughton Lodge site within the UK and Nottinghamshire Figure 3.2………………………Plan of the Broughton Lodge site, showing areas excavated by M.J. Dean in 1964-68 Figure 3.3…………………….Cemetery plan showing distribution and orientation of burials, and projected line of Roman road Figure 3.4…………………….Great square-headed brooch recovered from Burial 16, broadly similar to a group dating to 510-550AD Figure 3.5……………………..Pair of disc brooches recovered from Burial 35, similar to a group whose main period of use was 450-550AD Figure 3.6…………………….White metal scutiform pendant recovered from Burial 56/66, similar to a type dating to the 7th century AD Figure 3.7………………………M.J. Dean’s original field drawing of Burial 103/104 Figure 3.8………………………Plan of BLE26 Figure 3.9………………………Plan of BLE48 Figure 3.10…………………….Plan of BLE65 and BLE66 Figure 3.11…………………….Plan of BLE103 and BLE104 7 Figure 3.12……………………..Molar sectioned for incremental dentine analysis Figure 3.13………………….....Drilled powder dentine and enamel fragments Figure 3.14……………………..Preparation of rib material Figure 3.15……………………..Filtration and washing of demineralised bone collagen Figure 3.16……………………..Weighed samples in tin capsules, placed into sample tray Figure 3.17……………………..View from above of some of the weighed samples in tin capsules, showing their positions in the sample tray Figure 3.18…………………….Elemental analyser (Flash/EA) coupled to a Thermo Finnigan DeltaPlus XL isotope ratio mass spectrometer used to carry out the analysis Figure 3.19………………………View of the autosampler carousel from above Figure 4.1…………………………δ13C and δ15N values obtained from bulk dentine collagen analyses Figure 4.2………………………..δ13C and δ15N values obtained from bulk bone collagen analyses Figure 4.3………………………..δ13C values for incremental analysis of BLE26 Figure 4.4………………………..δ15N values for incremental analysis of BLE26 Figure 4.5………………………..δ13C and δ15N values for incremental analysis of BLE26 Figure 4.6………………………..δ13C values for incremental analysis of BLE66 Figure 4.7………………………..δ15N values for incremental analysis of BLE66 Figure 4.8………………………. δ13C and δ15N values for incremental analysis of BLE66. Figure 4.9………………………..δ15N values for incremental analysis of BLE26 and BLE66 Figure 4.10………………………δ13C values for incremental analysis of BLE26 and BLE66 Figure 4.11………………………BLE66 LM1 Incremental and bulk dentine δ15N values Figure 4.12………………………BLE66 LM1 Incremental and bulk dentine δ13C values Figure 5.1………………………..Location map of archaeological sites from which faunal data included in this analysis has been published. Broughton Lodge shown for reference 8 Figure 5.2…………………………Box chart showing possible indicative ranges of δ13C and δ15N for human bone collagen based on protein source with Broughton Lodge data shown Figure 5.3………………………….Location map of archaeological sites from which human data has been derived for this study. Broughton Lodge shown for reference Figure 5.4…………………………Mean δ13C and δ15N values obtained from bulk bone collagen analyses at Anglo-Saxon sites across England, organised by topographical location Figure 5.5………………………….Ranges of δ13C values from Anglo-Saxon sites in England, organised according to topographical group Figure 5.6………………………….Ranges of δ15N values from Anglo-Saxon sites in England, organised according to topographical group Figure 5.7………………………….Mean δ13C and δ15N values obtained from bulk bone collagen analyses at Anglo-Saxon sites across England, organised according to region Figure 5.8…………………………..Ranges of δ13C values from Anglo-Saxon sites in England, organised according to region Figure 5.9…………………………..Ranges of δ15N values from Anglo-Saxon sites in England, organised according to region Figure 5.9…………………………..Mean δ13C and δ15N values obtained from M2 and P2 bulk dentine collagen analyses at Anglo-Saxon sites in England, organised according to topographical group Figure 5.10………………………..Ranges of δ13C values obtained from M2 and P2 bulk dentine collagen analyses at Anglo-Saxon sites in England, organised according to topographical group 9 Figure 5.11………………………..Ranges of δ15N values obtained from M2 and P2 bulk dentine collagen analyses at Anglo-Saxon sites in England, organised according to topographical group Figure 5.12……………………….δ13C and δ15N values from Broughton Lodge bone and dentine collagen samples, with ages represented by each sample shown Figure 5.13………………………..Indicative isotopic profile reflecting weaning in children, as compiled from bone collagen analyses 10