ANTHROPOLOGIE
International Journal of Human Diversity and Evolution
 
Coverage: 1923-1941 (Vols. I-XIX) & 1962-2026 (Vols. 1-64)
ISSN 0323-1119 (Print)
ISSN 2570-9127 (Online)
Journal Impact Factor 0.2
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Full text of article
'Williams FL, Schmidt CW, Tvrdý Z, Adler K, Droke JL, 2026: THE DIET OF NEOLITHIC FARMERS FROM MODŘICE: A FUNNEL BEAKER CEMETERY IN CZECHIA. Anthropologie (Brno) 64, 1: 43-57'.
 
Abstract
The Neolithic Modřice cemetery of Moravia, Czechia, is characterized as a Funnel Beaker culture, and dated to circa 3900-3700 years cal BCE. The cemetery is divided into two main burial groups although one individual is buried away from the others. Although sex differences in grave goods is lacking in Modřice, stable isotopes indicate some disparity in the diets of females and males. We offer an exploratory reconstruction of the diet using dental microwear texture analysis to investigate the three-dimensional topographic use-wear on the molars. The two variables examined include complexity of the occlusal enamel surface and anisotropy, or patterning of microwear damage. A total of nine individuals yield suitable dental microwear textures comprising three males and six females. A comparative samples of foragers, farmers and herders (n = 153) is included to characterize the diet of Modřice. Nearly all of the females exhibit higher anisotropy than the males and the difference is significant. Burial Group 2 presents higher complexity compared to group 1. However, one female in Burial Group 1, Modřice 3851, exhibits the highest complexity of the sample. The funerary context as well as the δ¬15N and δ13C values of Modřice 3889 are unique and this female also exhibits the highest anisotropy, indicative of a different diet than the others. There seems to be a relationship between the degree of anisotropy and δ13C values although it is not very strong as the carbon isotope values do not differ substantially among individuals. Although the limited sample size precludes a conclusive interpretation, the available data suggest that females were more variable in dietary proclivities compared to males.
 
Keywords
Dental Microwear Texture Analysis – Maurenne Caverne de la Cave – Funerary behaviour – δ13C – δ15N
 
DOI
https://doi.org/10.26720/anthro.26.02.18.2
 
 
 
 

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