10.5523/bris.upjtf9os1dzr154phmgvrupibLucy Cramphttp://data.bris.ac.uk/people/153213Richard Evershedhttp://data.bris.ac.uk/people/9757Helen Wheltonhttp://data.bris.ac.uk/people/230316Marine fats in ancient pots IRMSUniversity of Bristol2014Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Councilhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000266analytical chemistryarchaeologycoastalstable isotopelipidNeolithicpalaeodietislandprehistoricorganic residuespotteryengThe transition from hunter-forager-fishing to Neolithic farming is arguably one of the most significant transformations in our prehistoric past, having a profound and lasting impact. The northwest European archipelago, far from the cradle of agriculture in the Levant, displays elements of the Neolithic package only by ca.4000 BC. Evidence from coastal locations raised the intriguing possibility that Mesolithic fishing practices were abruptly replaced by terrestrial resources shortly thereafter. Our investigation of organic residues from >1000 prehistoric vessels, re-evaluated collagen stable isotope and archaeozoological data, demonstrates conclusively that marine foods were rapidly neglected being instantly replaced by widespread dairying.
The data comprises GC/C/IRMS runs from archaeological pottery residuesapplication/x-thermo-isodatapplication/vnd.ms-excelapplication/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet