A multi‐isotope, multi‐tissue study of diets in industrialised societies of 17th to 19th century England

Palaeodietary research using isotope analysis has recently expanded and this research takes a novel approach by employing carbon isotope analysis of bone carbonate in conjunction with bone collagen for the first time, to explore 17th to 19th century diets in English populations. Central to the research, is the potential consumption of C4 crops (cane sugar/maize) which increased during this period. Additionally, it pays special attention to regional, local, age, sex, race, and socioeconomic variations in the diet in selected northern manufacturing towns and London populations in England. Finally, this research explores the potential for using isotope analysis of human dental calculus carbonate as a new proxy for cane sugar consumption investigations. Collagen isotope analysis was performed on 244 human and 168 faunal remains from (i) post-medieval sites in Halifax, Leeds, London, Manchester, Rotherham, Tunstall and York (ii) medieval sites in Southwell, Leicester, and Chester as well as (iii) modern individuals from the Forensic Anthropology Center, Tennessee, USA. In addition, FTIR-ATR was utilised to assess diagenesis, and both FTIR-ATR and bone carbonate analyses were performed on 273 human bones, 27 faunal bones, and 57 dental calculus samples. Finally, enamel and calculus carbonate analyses were performed on 57 samples. Overall, variations in the diet, especially consumption of C4 resources and animal protein were observed between and within different populations by geographical location, age, and socioeconomic status. The combination of bone carbonate and collagen isotope analysis using linear and multivariate modelling enabled the identification of C4 resource consumption. Londoners consumed more animal and marine protein as well as C4 resources potentially cane sugar. Additionally, the middle- and upper-class populations from both London and northern populations had greater access to these foods compared to those of lower status. Results from a pilot study indicated that although dental calculus has the potential to be used in palaeodietary studies, it cannot yet be used to ascertain C4 cane sugar consumption.