The globular amphora culture in the Eastern Baltic : new discoveries

Until now, Šventoji in northwest Lithuania was considered the most northern site of the Neolithic Globular Amphora Culture (hereafter GAC; ca. 3400–2500 cal BC) in Europe. Recently, however, ceramics typologically resembling GAC ware were identified among the materials from the multi-period sites of Abora 1 and Iča in Latvia and further to the north from Tamula in southeast Estonia. Here we present the multi-disciplinary analyses of these ceramics, including their morphology, function and chronology, to ascertain whether they could represent sporadic migrations of GAC groups into the region or exchange and increasing social contacts with the indigenous hunter-gatherers during the period from ca. 3000–2600 cal BC. Overall, our results align with previous studies showing that GAC groups in the Eastern Baltic possibly reorientated their economy from animal husbandry towards fishing, as recently evidenced by the composition of zooarchaeological assemblages, and the organic residue analysis of ceramic vessels, which markedly differ from the GAC communities of Central Europe. Indeed, in several coastal and southern regions of Lithuania, it would appear that some GAC migrants replaced the indigenous Subneolithic forager groups, whilst in other areas, they had little to no impact on the local cultural and economic development

Diet, cuisine and consumption practices of the first farmers in the south-eastern Baltic

With the arrival of the Early Neolithic Globular Amphora and Corded Ware cultures into the south-eastern Baltic, ca. 2900/2800-2400 cal BC, a new type of economy was introduced, animal husbandry. However, the degree to which this transformed the subsistence economy is unknown. Here, we conducted organic residue analyses of 64 ceramic vessels to identify their contents. The vessels were sampled from 10 Lithuanian archaeological sites dating across the Subneolithic-Neolithic transition to the Early Bronze Age (ca. 2900/2800-1300 cal BC). Our results demonstrate that regardless of location or vessel type, many ceramics were used to process aquatic resources. Against our expectations, this association continued even after marked economic change concurrent with the migration of pastoralists from central and south-eastern Europe, as evidenced by recent aDNA analysis of human remains. Moreover, we observed dairy fats in pottery from all cultures of the Early Neolithic (i.e. Rzucewo, Globular Amphora and Corded Ware cultures) but unlike other regions of Europe, it seems that these were incorporated into indigenous culinary practices. Furthermore, some vessels were used to process plant foods, and others may have been used for the production and/or storage of birch bark tar. However, evidence for domesticated plant processing, for example millet, was absent. We show that organic residue analysis of pottery provides a different picture of past consumption patterns compared to the stable isotope analysis of human remains from isolated burials where a clear dietary shift is evident

Diet in Lithuania from 4500-1200 cal BC based on data from bulk isotopic analyses of food residue on pottery.

Straipsnyje pristatome maisto liekanų keramikoje cheminių ir stabiliųjų anglies bei azoto izotopų tyrimų, vykdytų 2014-2017 m., rezultatus. Lietuvoje tai dar menkai išnaudotas informacijos apie priešistorinių žmonių mitybų šaltinis ir dar visai nauja tyrimų kryptis, pradėta vystyti kartu su Jungtinės Karalystės mokslininkais Lietuvos mokslo tarybai parėmus du projektus, todėl greta pirmųjų įžvalgų, hipotezių, išvadų siekiame atskleisti naujų metodų potencialų priešistorinių visuomenių tyrimuose. Gauti rezultatai stebėtinai gerai dera su archeologiniais, zooarcheologiniais, kaulo kolageno stabiliųjų izotopų duomenimis, daro priešistorinės ekonomikos ir mitybos paveikslų gerokai išsamesnį ir labiau pagrįstų. Šie tyrimai patvirtina ryškų pokytį nuo vandeninio maisto prie sausuminio - nuo žvejybos prie gyvulių auginimo daugelyje Lietuvos vietų vykus maždaug 2500 cal BC, kartu su Virvelinės keramikos kultūros žmonių pasirodymu. Svarbu tai, kad pajūrio gyvenvietėse net ir Virvelinės keramikos periodu vandeninio maisto resursų svarba ir toliau išliko didelė.The article presents the results of chemical and stable isotope (carbon and nitrogen) analyses conducted between 2014-2017 on visible deposits of food residue found on pottery. Information about the diet of prehistoric populations has so far been applied sporadically in Lithuania and represents a new research opportunity, the development of which was begun in collaboration with UK scientists after the Research Council of Lithuania supported two projects. As a consequence, alongside the initial insights, hypotheses, and conclusions, an effort was made to reveal the potential of new methods in the investigation ofprehistoric societies. The results obtained are a surprisingly goodfit with the archaeological, zooarchaeological, and bone collagen stable isotope data and help to build a more comprehensive picture of the prehistoric economy and diet. This investigation confirms a distinct transition from aquatic to terrestrial food, i.e. from fishing to husbandry at many locations in Lithuania circa 2500 cal вс, together with the appearance of the peoples of the Corded Ware culture. It is important to note that the exploitation of aquatic food resources still remained high in coastal settlements even in the period of the Corded Ware culture

Isotope data of small mammals

Carbon and nitrogen isotope data in small mammals from the flooded meadow; this is excell file with raw values from all studied specimen

Data from: Resource partitioning confirmed by isotopic signatures allows small mammals to share seasonally flooded meadows

Meadows in river deltas are characterized by a high diversity and abundance of small mammals. However, neither their spatial arrangement nor differences in their use of microhabitat can necessarily explain the dense co‐occurrence of sympatric species. We investigated how several small mammal species share a seasonally flooded meadow of limited size, testing predictions (P1) that herbivore, granivore, insectivore, and omnivore species are separated in time (dominant in different years), (P2) that sympatric species undergo isotopic partitioning, and (P3) that there are intraspecific differences in diet. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope signatures in the hair of seven synantropic shrew, vole, and mice species were used as a proxy for their diet. We found that the three most abundant species in eight of the nine years were from different diet groups. However, based on the number of species in the functional groups, the state of small mammal community was considered unfavored in five out of the nine investigation years. In years with the greatest dominance of Apodemus agrarius, the small mammal community was characterized by decreased diversity and Micromys minutus was either in low abundance or absent. In 2014 and 2016, years of low abundance or absence of M. oeconomus, M. agrestis, and M. glareolus were both recorded in high numbers. Differences in the isotopic signatures of the three most abundant small mammal species in the community were clearly expressed and core areas in the isotopic space were separated, showing their dependence on different dietary resources. Intraspecific dietary separation between young and adult animals was observed only in M. oeconomus. Thus, the high species diversity of small mammals and the formation of their community in this investigated flooded meadow are maintained by isotopic partitioning (segregation in dietary space) and by changes in their number over time (shifting dominance)

Dogs in Lithuania from the 12th to 18th C AD: Diet and Health According to Stable Isotope, Zooarchaeological, and Historical Data

This article presents the results of research that focused on the nutrition and related health issues of medieval and early modern dogs found in the territory of present-day Lithuania. In this study, we present bone collagen carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope ratios for seventy-five dogs recovered from seven sites which were dated back to the between the 12th and 18th C AD. In addition, by studying the remains of almost 200 dogs, we were able to estimate changes in the sizes and morphotypes of canines across over 600 years. On the basis of stable isotope and historical data, as well as the osteometric analysis, we discuss the dietary patterns of different sizes and types of dogs from the sites related to different social strata and time periods. The results of our study demonstrate that the size, type, diet, and health of canines from different time periods and sociocultural environments varied. Overall, carbon isotopic signals indicate that dogs’ diets were based on C3 plant environment foods (cereals and animals), while freshwater fish was more important for some individuals in coastal Klaipėda/Memelburg Castle. The stable isotope analysis supported the historical records, indicating that cereals were highly important in the diet of elite dogs. Meanwhile, urban dogs had a different nutrition. In the Middle Ages, the consumption of plant-based foods was likely higher compared to the early modern period. Our study also revealed that the diets of dogs did not correlate with individual size. Compared to pigs, dogs had a higher intake of animal foods in their diet. In general, the nutrition of the studied canines was similar to that of the rural human population of the same period

Stable isotope analysis supports omnivory in bank voles in apple orchards

With only periodic and incomplete studies of its diet over time, all with differing methods and conclusions, the degree of omnivory in the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) is not fully clear. We assessed the trophic niche of the species using isotopic (δ15N and δ13C) compositions from hair samples and analysed how C. glareolus shares trophic space with herbivores, granivores and insectivores living syntopically. According to the numbers trapped, C. glareolus was the fourth most numerous species in the apple orchards that we investigated, accounting for 14.4% of all trapped small mammals with a relative abundance of 1.12 individuals per 100 trap nights. The average values of both δ15N and δ13C in the hair of C. glareolus differed from the other trophic groups, with the average of δ15N in orchards and neighbouring habitats (6.55–6.95‰) being closest to that of insectivores. Intraspecific trophic niche differences (depending on age, gender and reproductive status) were not expressed, while correlations between body mass, body condition index and both δ15N and δ13C values were not consistent. In comparison to analysed basal resources, isotopic signatures in the hair were closest to the values in invertebrates and apple seeds. The degree of omnivory in C. glareolus was not the same in different habitats. This may be an indication of ecological plasticity within the species, allowing its inclusion/success in multi-species small mammal communities

Seasonal Variation in Stable Isotope Ratios of Cow Milk in Vilnius Region, Lithuania

Various studies have shown that stable isotope analysis has the potential to verify the geographic origin of foods and drinks. However, stable isotope composition is not always constant in the environment and can even change in the same area. Dairy products are of particular interest as a group of foods that play an important role in feeding the population. The composition of milk is fundamentally dependent on the feeding of the cows, and thereby on a particular environment. To better understand the amount of variation in δ18O, δ13C, and δ15N values in the milk from the same area, we measured stable isotope ratios in cow milk water, artesian water, and precipitation (δ18O) as well as in bulk milk samples (δ13C and δ15N) collected in 2014⁻2016. Different water and food sources were available during the winter (artesian water only and dry grass) and summer (artesian water and fresh grass), and spring and autumn seasons reflected transitional periods. Oxygen stable isotope ratios in milk water were relatively lower in winter and transitional seasons and higher in summer, showing the dependence on the main water source. δ13C values reflected particular food sources. This study shows the applicability of the stable isotope ratio method in linking cow milk to specific environments and reveals the amount of variation in stable isotope ratios in the same area. These results could be valuable for other studies on geographical origin determination of dairy products

Isotopic space of the house mouse in the gradient of anthropogenic habitats

The house mouse (Mus musculus) is a most extensively distributed omnivorous rodent species, usually living in close association with humans. Its diet includes various vegetable matter, insects and any available human food. For the first time, we assessed the dietary niche of this species by the isotopic (δ15N and δ13C) compositions of animal hair samples in the gradient of habitats, rang‐ ing from natural to fully commensal. The main factors explaining the differences in the isotopic niche of the mice, being the proxy of their diet, were the season and the source of available food. Influence of the habitat was weak, while gender, age, body mass and body condition had no influ‐ ence on the diet differences. We found that M. musculus dietary niches overlap between different habitats if mice have access to human food. Niches diverge when mice forage outdoors on natural food compared to farms where livestock feed is available. Compared to omnivorous bank vole (Cle‐ thrionomys glareolus) living synoptically, M. musculus has much wider dietary niche and consumes more foods of animal origin. Variability of the diet increases the ecological plasticity of this strongly commensal species and, together with behavioural and reproductive adaptability, allows irresisti‐ bly occupy various environments