A dietary study of ancient people based on the lipid analysis of ceramic residues : dietary environment of Final Jomon Kamegaoka Culture

Abstract

The similarities and the specificities between the diets of three Final Jomon sites of Tohoku Kamegaoka Culture were discussed based of chemistry perspectives. The lipid analysis, the compound specific isotope analysis and the N・C isotope analysis were applied to the excavated ceramics. As the results, the diet of two coastal sites including one salt-making site showed similarities of using marine food as well as terrestrial food. The usage of jar from the salt-making site was unknown, but lipid analysis implied that it was used in salt-making processes. The diet of inland site was suggested to be C3 plant with some terrestrial mammals.