Project description
Understanding the role of marine food consumption in early human evolution
The systematic consumption of marine food products marked the diversification of Homo sapiens from other hominins. However, the existence of mollusk and marine mammal bone remains at Neanderthal archaeological sites challenges this hypothesis. A recent study demonstrated the sensitivity of zinc isotope composition in bioapatite, the mineral part of bones and teeth, to dietary zinc. The EU-funded ARCHEIS project will develop a sequence of sensitive tracers for shellfish, fish and marine mammal consumption by combining classic and innovative techniques (including bulk zinc isotope analyses). The project will detect and characterise the onset of marine food exploitation in human history by comparing various South American and European prehistoric populations from the Atlantic coast.
Objective
The onset of the systematic consumption of marine resources is thought to mark a turning point for the hominin lineage. To date, this onset cannot be traced, since classic isotope markers are not preserved beyond 50 - 100 ky. Aquatic food products are essential in human nutrition as the main source of polyunsaturated fatty acids in hunter-gatherer diets. The exploitation of marine resources is also thought to have reduced human mobility and enhanced social and technological complexification. Systematic aquatic food consumption could well have been a distinctive feature of Homo sapiens species among his fellow hominins, and has been linked to the astonishing leap in human intelligence and conscience. Yet, this hypothesis is challenged by the existence of mollusk and marine mammal bone remains at Neanderthal archeological sites. Recent work demonstrated the sensitivity of Zn isotope composition in bioapatite, the mineral part of bones and teeth, to dietary Zn. By combining classic (C and C/N isotope analyses) and innovative techniques (compound specific C/N and bulk Zn isotope analyses), I will develop a suite of sensitive tracers for shellfish, fish and marine mammal consumption. Shellfish consumption will be investigated by comparing various South American and European prehistoric populations from the Atlantic coast associated to shell-midden and fish-mounds. Marine mammal consumption will be traced using an Inuit population of Arctic Canada and the Wairau Bar population of New Zealand. C/N/Zn isotope compositions of various aquatic products will also be assessed, as well as isotope fractionation during intestinal absorption. I will then use the fully calibrated isotope tools to detect and characterize the onset of marine food exploitation in human history, which will answer the question of its specificity to our species. Neanderthal, early modern humans and possibly other hominin remains from coastal and inland sites will be compared in that purpose.
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Funding Scheme
ERC-STG - Starting GrantHost institution
75794 Paris
France