Stable Isotope Evidence of Neolithic Palaeodiets in the Coastal Regions of Southern Portugal

To understand stable isotope (δ15N and δ13C) and radiocarbon results for a batch of 16 burials from the Bom Santo Cave (Portugal) a comprehensive analysis of data from 29 archaeological sites located in the coastal regions of the southern half of the country was undertaken. Results showed that, while some individuals seem to have eaten more marine or aquatic (i.e., freshwater) food as a result of locally available resources, the overall picture indicated a balanced consumption of terrestrial plants and herbivores throughout all stages of the Neolithic. This pattern represents a shift from Mesolithic subsistence focused on locally available resources to the introduction of a farming economic system with its associated changes in settlement and possibly also demography.