Island subsistence during the Late Bronze and Iron Age in Menorca: insights from stable isotopes and Bayesian mixing models at the Biniadrís Cave (Spain)

Abstract

The Biniadrís cave, a Late Bronze and Early Iron Age funerary site in Menorca, Spain, offers exceptional preservation for investigating dietary patterns in the Western Mediterranean. Stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) in bone collagen have proven valuable for examining variability in animal protein intake. This study integrates previous results from human remains from the Biniadrís cave and, incorporates the analysis of faunal bone collagen using Bayesian modelling to reconstruct the paleodiet of this population during the Late Bronze and Iron Ages. By integrating data from zooarchaeological assemblages across multiple archaeological contexts, both domestic and funerary, a comprehensive baseline is established to understand the protein consumption patterns of individuals in Menorca. The combination of stable isotope analysis and zooarchaeological data enables the interpretation of dietary habits and subsistence strategies employed by the Late Bronze and Iron Age populations. Furthermore, Bayesian mixing models were employed to quantify the proportional contribution of protein from different sources, providing an important understanding of dietary contributions from various animal species and revealing differences through time. The findings suggest increase in pig as a significant food source from the Late Bronze Age to Iron Age in Menorca, supplemented by cattle and goat, reflecting the importance of pig husbandry. This dietary pattern is consistent with dry-land farming, which constituted the predominant agricultural strategy during this period. The study highlights the broader implications of these dietary practices for understanding social and economic aspects of the Late Bronze Age/ Iron Age society in Menorca, including farming practices, animal husbandry, and resource management.