δ13C spacing by site.

<p>δ13C spacing by site.</p

δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N collagen values for Bergrheinfeld.

<p>δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N collagen values for Bergrheinfeld.</p

Isoscape map of mean annual δ18O values in Germany (VSMOW).

<p>Redrawn from Rozanski [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0155083#pone.0155083.ref116" target="_blank">116</a>].</p

Mean δ13C and δ15N values at Bergrheinfeld and Lauda-Königshofen, compared to early (LBK) and middle Neolithic (Rössen, Hinkelstein, Grossgartach) sites in southern Germany (ca 5500–4100 BC).

<p>Comparative data from Mörseburg et al. [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0155083#pone.0155083.ref047" target="_blank">47</a>].</p

Scatterplot of enamel ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (x-axis) and δ¹³C from Bergrheinfeld.

<p>Scatterplot of enamel ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (x-axis) and δ¹³C from Bergrheinfeld.</p

Gerling [97] scatterplot of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and δ¹⁸O (VSMOW) from 142 human tooth enamel from across the steppe region.

<p>The vertical red line marks the 0.710 boundary in the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values. Reprinted from [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0155083#pone.0155083.ref097" target="_blank">97</a>] under a CC BY license, with permission from Claudia Gerling, original copyright 2014.</p

Diet and Mobility in the Corded Ware of Central Europe

<div><p>Isotopic investigations of two cemetery populations from the Corded Ware Culture in southern Germany reveal new information on the dating of these graves, human diet during this period, and individual mobility. Corded Ware Culture was present across much of temperate Europe ca. 2800–2200 cal. BC and is represented by distinctive artifacts and burial practices. Corded Ware was strongly influenced by the Yamnaya Culture that arose in the steppes of eastern Europe and western Eurasia after 3000 BC, as indicated by recent aDNA research. However, the development of CW on different chronological and spatial scales has to be evaluated. Examination of the CW burials from southern Germany supports an argument for substantial human mobility in this period. Several burials from gravefields and larger samples from two large cemeteries at Lauda-Königshofen "Wöllerspfad" and at Bergheinfeld “Hühnerberg” contributed the human remains for our study of bone and tooth enamel from the Corded Ware Culture. Our results suggest that Corded Ware groups in this region at least were subsisting on a mix of plant and animal foods and were highly mobile, especially the women. We interpret this as indicating a pattern of female exogamy, involving different groups with differing economic strategies.</p></div

Summary statistics of the isotope results from tooth samples.

<p>Summary statistics of the isotope results from tooth samples.</p

Scatterplot of enamel ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (x-axis) and δ¹⁸O from Bergrheinfeld.

<p>Scatterplot of enamel ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (x-axis) and δ¹⁸O from Bergrheinfeld.</p

Strontium isotope geology of Bavaria (dotted line).

<p>Three major zones are indicated, carbonates in the south; granite and gneiss northeast of the Danube, and a varied geological landscape with mixed ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values to the northwest of the Danube. Redrawn from Schweissing and Grupe [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0155083#pone.0155083.ref087" target="_blank">87</a>].</p