Isotopic insights from carpological remains: one of the first datasets for the Italian Bronze Age

Description

The dataset encompasses 180 carpological remains from various crop types, including Vicia faba, Triticum mococcum/dicoccum, Triticum aestivum, and Hordeum vulgare. These remains are derived from four archaeological sites situated in northern and central Italy, dating back to the Early-Middle Bronze Age: the pile-dwelling of Ledro, the settlement of S. Maria in Belverde, Grotta Nuova, and Grotta di Pastena. The data are useful to reconstruct agricultural practices of ancient communities, filling partially the lack of data that characterized the Italian Bronze age. The aim of the work is to return a regional picture through the isotopic values obtained, becoming a pattern for future analyses. Prior to conducting stable isotope analysis, the samples underwent archaeobotanical studies. Microscopic analysis of seeds was carried out, aided by modern comparative collections and illustrated atlases. Seeds from Ledro are unburned, while those from S. Maria in Belverde, Grotta Nuova, and Grotta di Pastena are burned. Given the absence of an established protocol for stable isotope analysis on carpological remains, two different methods were employed to assess whether chemical pre-treatment affected the isotopic signatures of the grains. Twenty samples underwent the ABA pre-treatment protocol (Fraser et al., 2013b), while the remaining seeds were individually crushed in a mortar, with the resulting powder fed into the isotope ratio mass spectrometer. There are no defined criteria for rejecting plant isotope measurements based on C/N ratios, so we adhered to the guidelines proposed by Vaiglova et al. (2014). To ensure the reliability of measurements, each grain was measured three times, following the recommendations of Mueller-Bieniek et al. (2019) and O’Connell et al. (2019). The preparation of carpological remains took place at the Centre of Molecular Anthropology for Ancient DNA Studies at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata.” Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios were measured in a double run using a Delta Plus XP isotope ratio mass spectrometer coupled with a Flash 1112 Elemental Analyser via a Conflow IV interface (Thermo Scientific Milan, Italy) at the Food Quality and Nutrition Department, Traceability Unit – Fondazione Edmund Mach. Estimations of manuring rates were determined through comparison with various methodological approaches (e.g., Bogaard et al., 2007, 2013; Kanstrup et al., 2014; Styring et al., 2016; Treasure et al., 2016). The watering status of seeds was established through carbon values, following Ferrio et al. (2005) and Wallace et al. (2013). In conclusion, the obtained results show how legumes and cereals have been manured and watered by humans; nevertheless, it seems that in settlements crops have been more subjected to human management; conversely in cave contexts agricultural practices were less significant.

Steps to reproduce

Prior to conducting stable isotope analysis, the samples underwent archaeobotanical studies. Microscopic analysis of seeds was carried out, aided by modern comparative collections and illustrated atlases. Seeds from Ledro are unburned, while those from S. Maria in Belverde, Grotta Nuova, and Grotta di Pastena are burned. Given the absence of an established protocol for stable isotope analysis on carpological remains, two different methods were employed to assess whether chemical pre-treatment affected the isotopic signatures of the grains. Twenty samples underwent the ABA pre-treatment protocol (Fraser et al., 2013b), while the remaining seeds were individually crushed in a mortar, with the resulting powder fed into the isotope ratio mass spectrometer. There are no defined criteria for rejecting plant isotope measurements based on C/N ratios, so we adhered to the guidelines proposed by Vaiglova et al. (2014). To ensure the reliability of measurements, each grain was measured three times, following the recommendations of Mueller-Bieniek et al. (2019) and O’Connell et al. (2019). The preparation of carpological remains took place at the Centre of Molecular Anthropology for Ancient DNA Studies at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata.” Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios were measured in a double run using a Delta Plus XP isotope ratio mass spectrometer coupled with a Flash 1112 Elemental Analyser via a Conflow IV interface (Thermo Scientific Milan, Italy) at the Food Quality and Nutrition Department, Traceability Unit – Fondazione Edmund Mach. Estimations of manuring rates were determined through comparison with various methodological approaches (e.g., Bogaard et al., 2007, 2013; Kanstrup et al., 2014; Styring et al., 2016; Treasure et al., 2016). The watering status of seeds was established through carbon values, following Ferrio et al. (2005) and Wallace et al. (2013).

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