Child-mother relationships and childhood dietary patterns in the Iberian Peninsula uncovered by Bayesian isotopic approaches

This study examines trends in infant diet, breastfeeding and weaning in Portugal through time in Roman, Medieval Muslim and Christian skeletal assemblages (1st to the 15th century CE). New stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) measurements were collected from 143 non-adults and 46 adults that are analysed alongside comparative published datasets from contemporaneous Iberian populations. A statistical package was used to model bone collagen nitrogen isotope data of individuals, quantitatively estimating weaning onset and completion across diverse historical sites. Nutritional intake from infancy to adolescence was reconstructed via Bayesian modelling supported by the OsteoBioR platform using incremental dentine-collagen isotope ratio analysis in six adult individuals. Childhood diets in historical Portugal showed a prolonged weaning time while weaning food included varying degrees of high trophic level protein during both the Roman and Medieval periods. The Bayesian statistical approach offers a comprehensive perspective on child-rearing practices through the lens of diet, including breastfeeding, weaning and nutritional intake during childhood in historical Portugal. The results highlight the variability and complexity of childhood diets over time and between different locations. Overall, the study informs debates about child nutrition practices globally while also offering unique insights into infant nutrition in Iberia over nearly 1500 years.

Investigating infant feeding development in wild chimpanzees using stable isotopes of naturally shed hair

Measuring the relative contributions of milk and non-milk foods in the diets of primate infants is difficult from observations. Stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotopes in hair can be used to physiologically track infant feeding through development, but few wild studies have done so, likely due to the difficulty in collecting hair non-invasively. We assessed infant feeding at different ages in wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) at Ngogo, Uganda using δ13C and δ15N of keratin in 164 naturally shed hairs from 29 infants (61 hairs), 6 juveniles (7 hairs), 28 mothers (67 hairs) and 14 adult males (29 hairs). Hairs were collected when they stuck to feces during defecation or from the ground after chimpanzees groomed or rested. We could not distinguish between the hairs of infants and mothers using strand length and diameter. Infants 1-2 years old were most enriched in 13C and 15N and showed means of 1.1‰ in δ13C and 2.1‰ in δ15N above their mothers. Infants at 2 years had hair δ13C values like those of their mothers, which suggests infants began relying more heavily on plants around this age. While mother-infant δ13C and δ15N differences generally decreased with offspring age, as is expected when infants rely increasingly more on independent foraging through development, milk seemed to remain an important dietary component for infants older than 2.5 years, as evidenced by continuing elevated δ15N. We showed that stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in naturally shed hairs can feasibly detect trophic level differences between chimpanzee infants and mothers. Since it can mitigate some of the limitations associated with behavioral and fecal stable isotope data, the use of hair stable isotopes is a useful, non-invasive tool for assessing infant feeding development in wild primates.

Preliminary isotopic assessment of weaning in bonobos shows evidence for extended nursing, sibling competition and invested first-time mothers

Although considered a hallmark in early ontogeny, weaning from breastmilk is difficult to monitor in wild primates and weaning ages remain unknown for wild bonobos (Pan Paniscus). Here, we calculated inter-birth intervals from demographic data and measured the isotopic offsets (Δ15N and Δ13C) between mother (n = 17) and offspring (n = 28) fecal sample pairs (n = 131, total n = 246) in the LuiKotale bonobos to assess nutritional weaning for the first time. We tested the effects of infant age, female parity, and sibling competition on Δ15N and Δ13C values. We found bonobo inter-birth intervals ranging from 2.2 to 7.3 years (x̄ = 4.7 ± 1.3 years) at LuiKotale. The Δ15N and Δ13C values suggested nutritional weaning on average by 6.6 and 7.0 years of age respectively, considerably exceeding weaning ages reported for chimpanzees (P. troglodytes) using the same approach. Our Δ13C data suggested that the number of offspring present affected nursing, with first-time mothers nursing more and possibly longer. The Δ15N and Δ13C values decreased with the arrival of the next sibling, suggesting sibling competition reduces milk access. Nevertheless, offspring may continue nursing 2.5-3 years after the birth of the next sibling, corresponding well with observations on low infant mortality. In conclusion, bonobo mothers provide remarkably enduring materna l support in the form of nursing concurrently to several offspring.

Maternal care in wild toque macaques (Macaca sinica) involves prolonged lactation and interbirth intervals as adaptations to reduce maternal depletion and infant mortality in harsh environments

Weaning age in primates has been challenging to measure and new methods, involving molecular biomarkers in feces, tissue, or teeth have contributed to a solution. Here, we used a direct approach by briefly anesthetizing 442 female toque macaques (Macaca sinica) of Sri Lanka (over a 17-year period) and manually testing their mammary tissue for the presence or absence of milk. Milk tests were related to known offspring ages and maternal care behaviors and indicated that older infants suckled milk well past the weaning age of 7 months that is often reported for food-provisioned primates. Mothers strongly rejected their infants' nursing attempts in two phases, the first at 7 months as an honest signal "giving notice" promoting a shift to greater independence from milk to solid food, and when "shutting down" at final weaning after 12-18 months. The shift to supplementary lactation coincided also with the cessation of mothers carrying their infants and a resumption of cycling. All infants up to 7.2 months suckled milk, 91% of them did up to 18 months, this continued for 42% of infants beyond 18 months, and normally none received milk after 22 months. Lactation extended into 2.2% of cycling and 10.7% of pregnant females (up to 50% of gestation). The interbirth interval was prolonged by factors predicted to draw on female metabolic energy reserves and included the duration of lactation, growth among primiparas, and dietary limitations. The last also increased menarche. Females offset the metabolic costs of lactation with increased foraging and catabolism, but infants died when lactation costs seemingly compromised maternal condition. The prolonged lactation and slowed reproduction are considered adaptations to promote infant survival and growth in an environment where the natural food supply limits population growth and competition for food and water impacts the mortality of the youngest the most.

Reproductive life histories: can incremental dentine isotope analysis identify pubertal growth, pregnancy and lactation?

BACKGROUND

There are few reliable osteological indicators to detect parity or infer puberty in skeletal remains. Nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) and stable carbon (δ¹³C) isotope ratios in human tissues can be affected by metabolically unbalanced states engendered by pregnancy or rapid growth, offering potential biomarkers.

AIM

This pilot study explores the potential of incremental dentine-collagen isotope ratio analysis to identify puberty and gestation.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Incremental dentine δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C profiles were produced by analysing third molars extracted as part of dental treatment of 10 individuals living in Sudan. Demographic and anthropometric data at the time of tooth extraction was available. Medical histories were unknown.

RESULTS

Isotopic signatures potentially related to pubertal growth, with an average δ¹⁵N reduction of 0.78 ± 0.29‰, are indicated. Six isotopic signals suggestive of pregnancy, with an average δ¹⁵N decrease of 0.48 ± 0.22‰, are also observed. The timing, speed and amplitude of post-partum δ¹⁵N patterns seemingly infer infant feeding practices and maternal nutritional status.

CONCLUSION

This pilot study highlights the potential of incremental dentine isotope analysis for the reconstruction of early reproductive histories in skeletal remains. However, controlled studies with a larger human cohort are needed to validate these findings, establish isotopic signals linked to puberty and lactation, and improve chronology accuracy.

Isotopic reconstruction of short to absent breastfeeding in a 19th century rural Dutch community

Artificial feeding of young infants is considered a modern phenomenon. However, historical sources note its practice in some past European populations. This research explores factors that contributed to a short to absent period of breastfeeding in pre-modern Netherlands. Stable nitrogen and carbon isotope analysis is undertaken on 277 19^th century individuals from Beemster, a, rural, mainly Protestant, dairy farming community. An intra-individual sampling approach for ≤6 year-olds compares newer metaphyseal to older diaphyseal long bone collagen to classify feeding status at death. Archivally identified individuals permit analyses of sex and year-of-death. Few infants have isotopic evidence for breastfeeding and, if present, it was likely of short duration or a minor source of dietary protein. From only a few weeks to months of age infants were fed cow’s milk and paps with sugar. There is broad dietary homogeneity with no sex or temporal isotopic differences, but young infants (1–11 months) have the most ẟ¹⁵N and ẟ¹³C variation highlighting the effect of multiple dietary and physiological processes. Beemster had many factors associated with high rates of breastfeeding in other Dutch communities, yet, most mothers did not breastfeed, or not for long, showing that regional variation in infant feeding is influenced by community values and traditions. On top of child rearing and domestic chores, female dairy farmers were in charge of milking cattle and dairy production, an important income source, suggesting high workload was also a factor in short or absent breastfeeding periods, aided by the constant supply of fresh milk that could be fed to an infant by an older sibling.

Tracking breastfeeding and weaning practices in ancient populations by combining carbon, nitrogen and oxygen stable isotopes from multiple non-adult tissues

This paper explores the potential of combining different isotope systems from different tissues to improve resolution when reconstructing breastfeeding and weaning practices (BWP) in archaeology. Additionally, we tested whether changes in diet can be detected in deciduous teeth. Rib collagen samples from 22 infants/children from the archaeological site of Bacuranao I (Mayabeque, Cuba) were processed for nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) and carbon (δ¹³C_co) stable isotopes and assessed using a Bayesian model (WARN). In addition, enamel of 48 teeth from 30 infants/children were analyzed for oxygen (δ¹⁸O_en) and carbon (δ¹³C_en) stable isotopes. Data revealed that the timing of weaning cannot be characterized precisely by analyzing either δ¹⁸O or δ¹⁵N. While a depletion in both δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C_co is only evident after one year, the WARN model suggested that the weaning process started at around 3 months and ended around 1.7 years. Most teeth were enriched in δ¹⁸O_en compared to deciduous incisors, suggesting a breastfeeding signal. However, a high variability in δ¹⁸O was found between similar teeth from the same individuals. Higher enrichment in δ¹⁸O_en, and variability, was observed in tissues formed during the first six months of life. A δ¹³C enrichment of 1.0‰ was observed among deciduous teeth and ribs. While most individuals enriched in δ¹⁵N showed enrichment in δ¹³C, the δ¹⁸O values were more variable. Our data suggests that stable isotopes of deciduous teeth, especially δ¹³C_en, can be used to detect changes in diet during the weaning process. It is also possible that the δ¹⁸O enrichment observed in M1 is influenced by the effects of cooking techniques on weaning foods. The combination of multiple isotope systems and tissues overcome some of the limitations posed by single tissue approaches.

Prey-to-fox isotopic enrichment of 34 S in bone collagen: Implications for paleoecological studies

RATIONALE

The trophic enrichment factor (TEF) is a parameter reflecting the difference in isotopic ratio between a consumer's tissues and diet, used in isotopic ecology and paleoecology to track dietary habits. The TEF of sulfur is believed to be low, but was, until now, only documented in a limited number of taxa. In this study we use a subfossil accumulation of bones from a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) den to verify the TEF for sulfur in fox bone collagen.

METHODS

Collagen was extracted from 30 samples of subfossil bones, including foxes and their prey. The δ³⁴ S values of the bone collagen samples were measured with an elemental analyzer connected to an isotope ratio mass spectrometer. The TEF was calculated as [Δ³⁴ S = (mean δ³⁴ S in predator) - (mean δ³⁴ S in prey)], using taphonomic indices to estimate the mean diet, and calculated separately for different age classes of the predator.

RESULTS

We modeled 12 variants of TEF for different estimations of the diet composition and for three fox age classes (adult, subadult, and juvenile). The estimated TEF values range from -0.54 to +0.03‰ and are similar to TEFs known for other mammals. Absolute TEF values are nearly equal to or lower than the analytical error, which is ±0.4‰.

CONCLUSIONS

For the first time, we present direct δ³⁴ S data for the bone collagen of a free-living predator and its naturally selected prey. Our results indicate very low or even slightly negative TEF values for sulfur. Furthermore, according to our results, the δ³⁴ S value should not be considered a reliable indicator of trophic position in terrestrial food webs but rather, it should be used to disentangle different food webs based on different primary producers.

Those who died very young-Inferences from δ15 N and δ13 C in bone collagen and the absence of a neonatal line in enamel related to the possible onset of breastfeeding

OBJECTIVES

Stable isotope analysis has often been used in neonatal remains from archeological contexts to investigate the presence of a signal of breastfeeding and weaning in past populations. Tooth histology on the other hand might be used as an indicator of birth survival. This pilot study aimed to investigate the feasibility of using stable nitrogen (δ¹⁵ N) and carbon (δ¹³ C) isotope values from neonatal bone collagen to elucidate if values deviating from the adult female average could indicate breastfeeding and co-occur with the presence of a neonatal line (NNL). The combination of these independent indicators might be useful in clarifying the fate of individuals who died around birth.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Bone collagen from 21 archeological human and animal specimens was extracted and analyzed via mass-spectrometry for δ¹⁵ N and δ¹³ C. A verification of the stable isotope results was undertaken using tooth histology on three individuals who were investigated for the presence of a NNL as an indicator of live birth and short survival.

RESULTS

The biological age of the human samples varied between 8.5 lunar months (Lm) and 2 postnatal months (Pm) of age. All except one individual exhibited elevated δ¹⁵ N values compared to the female average. The histological analyses revealed no NNL for this and two further individuals (n = 3).

DISCUSSION

The results indicate that elevated nitrogen values of very young infants relative to a female average in archeological contexts are not necessarily associated with a breastfeeding onset signal, and therefore cannot be used exclusively as a proxy of birth survival. The elevation might be possible due to various reasons; one could be nutritional, in particular maternal stress during pregnancy or a metabolic disorder of mother and/or her child. In those cases, the evaluation of a NNL might reveal a false breastfeeding signal as seen for two individuals in our sample who have elevated nitrogen values despite the fact no NNL could be observed. Overall, our data support the growing awareness that bone collagen δ¹⁵ N values of neonates/infants should not be used as a proxy for breastfeeding or birth survival on its own.

4000 years of human dietary evolution in central Germany, from the first farmers to the first elites

Investigation of human diet during the Neolithic has often been limited to a few archaeological cultures or single sites. In order to provide insight into the development of human food consumption and husbandry strategies, our study explores bone collagen carbon and nitrogen isotope data from 466 human and 105 faunal individuals from 26 sites in central Germany. It is the most extensive data set to date from an enclosed geographic microregion, covering 4,000 years of agricultural history from the Early Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age. The animal data show that a variety of pastures and dietary resources were explored, but that these changed remarkably little over time. In the human δ¹⁵N however we found a significant increase with time across the different archaeological cultures. This trend could be observed in all time periods and archaeological cultures (Bell Beaker phenomenon excluded), even on continuously populated sites. Since there was no such trend in faunal isotope values, we were able largely to exclude manuring as the cause of this effect. Based on the rich interdisciplinary data from this region and archaeological period we can argue that meat consumption increased with the increasing duration of farming subsistence.

In δ¹³C, we could not observe any clear increasing or decreasing trends during the archaeological time periods, either for humans or for animals, which would have suggested significant changes in the environment and landscape use. We discovered sex-related dietary differences, with males of all archaeological periods having higher δ¹⁵N values than females, and an age-related increasing consumption of animal protein. An initial decrease of δ¹⁵N-values at the age of 1–2 years reveals partial weaning, while complete weaning took place at the age of 3–4 years.

Breastfeeding, weaning, and dietary practices during the Western Zhou Dynasty (1122-771 BC) at Boyangcheng, Anhui Province, China

OBJECTIVES

Here we investigate breastfeeding and weaning practices and adult dietary habits at the Western Zhou Dynasty (1122-771 BC) site of Boyangcheng () located in Anhui Province, China. In addition, we utilize the differences in bone collagen turnover rates between rib and long bones from the same individual to examine past life histories, such as changes in diet or residence.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Bone collagen from both the rib and long bones (either femora or humeri) of 42 individuals was measured for stable isotope ratios of carbon (δ¹³ C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵ N). In addition, δ¹³ C and δ¹⁵ N values are reported for 35 animals (dogs, cows, horses, pigs, and deer).

RESULTS

The human δ¹³ C values range from -20.7‰ to -12.0‰ with a mean value of -18.8 ± 1.6‰. The human δ¹⁵ N values range from 9.1‰ to 13.4‰ with a mean value of 10.9 ± 1.0‰. The animals display a wide range of δ¹³ C (-21.5‰ to -8.2‰; -15.8 ± 4.5‰) and δ¹⁵ N values (4.0‰ to 9.5‰; 6.5 ± 1.8‰).

CONCLUSIONS

The adult δ¹³ C and δ¹⁵ N results indicate that mixed C₃ (rice) and C₄ (millet) terrestrial diets with varying levels of animal protein (mostly pigs and deer) were consumed. The elevated subadult δ¹⁵ N results return to adult levels by approximately 3-4 years of age, indicating that the weaning process was completed during this period. Individuals between 2 and 10 years old, with lower δ¹³ C and δ¹⁵ N results than the adult mean, possibly consumed more plant-based diets, and this is consistent with Chinese medical teachings ∼1500 years later during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907). The isotopic offsets between the ribs and long bones revealed that five adults experienced dramatic dietary shifts in their later lives, switching from predominately C₃ /C₄ to C₃ diets. This research provides the first isotopic information about ancient Chinese breastfeeding and weaning practices and establishes a foundation for future studies to examine diachronic trends.

Post-weaning diet in archaeological human populations: A meta-analysis of carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of child skeletons

OBJECTIVES

Childhood is a unique stage in human life history, in which subadults have completed their weaning process but are still dependent on older individuals for survival. Although the importance of food provisioning during childhood has been intensively discussed, childhood diet in the past has rarely been studied in a systematic manner.

METHODS

In this study, a meta-analysis of carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of post-weaning children (PWC) in Holocene human populations around the world is presented. The isotope ratios of PWC were standardized with those of adult females and males in the same population, and they were analyzed in terms of the difference in subsistence.

RESULTS

Results of this study indicate that diets of PWC and adults were generally similar (most differences were within the range of ±1‰), which is consistent with the universal feature of food provisioning to PWC in humans. In hunter-gatherer populations, there is no significant difference between PWC and adult isotope ratios. In non-hunter-gatherer populations, however, PWC probably consumed significantly larger proportions of foods from lower trophic levels than did the adults, and such foods would be terrestrial C₃ plants.

CONCLUSIONS

Potential factors relating to the dietary differences among PWC and adults are presented from a perspective of balance between food provisioning and self-acquisition by PWC. Significant isotopic differences between PWC and adults in non-hunter-gatherer populations revealed in this study have implications for declined health during the subsistence transition in Holocene, isotopic studies using human tooth enamel, and "δ¹⁵ N dip" of subadults after weaning.

A novel fecal stable isotope approach to determine the timing of age-related feeding transitions in wild infant chimpanzees

OBJECTIVES

Determining nutritional development in wild primates is difficult through observations because confirming dietary intake is challenging. Physiological measures are needed to determine the relative contributions of maternal milk and other foods at different ages, and time of weaning. We used fecal stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes (δ¹³ C, δ¹⁵ N) and fecal nitrogen concentrations (%N) from wild chimpanzees at Ngogo, Uganda, to derive physiological dietary indicators during the transition from total reliance on maternal milk to adult foods after weaning.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We analyzed 560 fecal samples collected non-invasively from 48 infants, their mothers, and 6 juvenile siblings. Most infant and juvenile samples (90%) were matched to samples collected from mothers on the same day. Isotopic assessments were compared with observations of nursing and feeding.

RESULTS

Infants ≤1 year old showed average δ¹⁵ N, δ¹³ C and %N ratios that were 2.0‰, 0.8‰ and 1.3% greater than their mothers, respectively, interpreted as trophic level effects. Although data collected on newborns were few, results suggest that solid foods were consumed within 2-5 months after birth. Trophic level differences decreased steadily after 1 year, which indicates a decreasing relative contribution of milk to the diet. Isotopic results indicated infants were weaned by 4.5 years old-more than a year earlier than observations of nipple contacts ceased, which revealed the occurrence of "comfort nursing." Juvenile isotopic signatures indicate no nursing overlap between siblings.

DISCUSSION

Our results resemble the stable isotope differences of human babies. This study contributes to a model of chimpanzee nutritional development required to understand early life history patterns in hominins.

Subadult dietary variation at Trino Vercellese, Italy, and its relationship to adult diet and mortality

OBJECTIVES

Early-life nutrition is a predisposing factor for later-life outcomes. This study tests the hypothesis that subadults from medieval Trino Vercellese, Italy, who lived to adulthood consumed isotopically different diets compared with subadults who died before reaching adulthood. We have previously used a life history approach, comparing dentine and bone of the same adult individuals ("subadults who lived"), to elucidate dietary variation across the life span. Here, we examine diets of "subadults who died" from the same population, estimated from subadult rib collagen, to explore whether dietary behaviors of subadults who lived differed from those of subadults who died.

METHODS

Forty-one subadults aged six months to 14.5 years were studied through stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of collagen.

RESULTS

Individuals were weaned by age 4 years, with considerable variation in weaning ages overall. Post-weaning, diets of subadults who died comprised significantly less animal protein than diets of subadults who lived. Isotopic values of the two oldest individuals, 13.5 and 14.5 years, show the same status-based variation in diet as do adults from the population.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that incorporating animal protein in diet during growth and development supported medieval subadults' ability to survive to adulthood. Isotopic similarities between adults and older subadults suggest "adult" dietary behaviors were adopted in adolescence. Stable isotope evidence from subadults bridges a disparity between ontogenetic age categories and socioculturally meaningful age categories in the past, and sheds light on the underpinnings of health, mortality, growth, and disease in the bioarchaeological record. Am J Phys Anthropol 160:653-664, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Advances in primate stable isotope ecology-Achievements and future prospects

Stable isotope biogeochemistry has been used to investigate foraging ecology in non-human primates for nearly 30 years. Whereas early studies focused on diet, more recently, isotopic analysis has been used to address a diversity of ecological questions ranging from niche partitioning to nutritional status to variability in life history traits. With this increasing array of applications, stable isotope analysis stands to make major contributions to our understanding of primate behavior and biology. Most notably, isotopic data provide novel insights into primate feeding behaviors that may not otherwise be detectable. This special issue brings together some of the recent advances in this relatively new field. In this introduction to the special issue, we review the state of isotopic applications in primatology and its origins and describe some developing methodological issues, including techniques for analyzing different tissue types, statistical approaches, and isotopic baselines. We then discuss the future directions we envision for the field of primate isotope ecology. Am. J. Primatol. 78:995-1003, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Inter-individual variation in weaning among rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta): Serum stable isotope indicators of suckling duration and lactation

Weaning is a transition in early development with major implications for infant survival and well-being, and for maternal lifetime reproductive success. The particular strategy a primate mother adopts in rearing her offspring represents a negotiation between her ability to invest and her need to invest, and can be considered adaptive and influenced by biological and social factors. Any investigation into how and why maternal weaning strategies differ among non-human primates is limited by the precision of the measurement tool used to assess infants' weaning ages. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of soft tissues (e.g., hair, nails, feces, urine, blood) offers an objective means of monitoring the weaning status of infants. In this study, we assess stable isotope ratios in blood serum from 14 captive rhesus macaque dyads (Macaca mulatta) at infant ages 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10 months to estimate the timing of weaning events. Male infants wean earlier than female infants. Infants with the lowest birth weights wean latest. Most infants wean upon reaching 2.5 times their birth weights, sooner than when weaning elsewhere has been predicted for captive cercopithecine primates. The longest weaning periods (ca. 10 months) are observed among infants of small mothers. The shortest weaning period, between 2 and 5 months, was among the lowest ranking dyad. Parity and mothers' ages had no discernible effect on the timing of weaning events. The stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values of dams during lactation are significantly different than those of a non-lactating adult female outgroup, raising questions about the suitability and selection of adult comparative baselines in studies where lactating mothers cannot be sampled longitudinally (e.g., bioarchaeology; paleontology). Am. J. Primatol. 78:1113-1134, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.