Dietary habits in the Byzantine Western Anatolia: a stable isotope examination of Adramytteion skeletons

Ayşegül Şahin; Derya Atamtürk; Turhan Doğan; İzzet Duyar

Dietary habits in the Byzantine Western Anatolia: a stable isotope examination of Adramytteion skeletons

Abstract

This study aims to focus on the dietary habits of the inhabitants of Adramytteion (Burhaniye, Balıkesir), located within the borders of today's Anatolia and inhabited during the Early/Middle Byzantine Period, in order to identify the predominant food preferences of these people in the period and geography in which they lived, shed light on their subsistence economy, and analyze how this was reflected in their nutrition and lifestyle. The material for the study consists of 23 adult individuals buried in graves located in Area C (Churches Area) and its surroundings. Individuals were selected criteria such as gender and age group. In the study, dietary habits were determined by measuring the δ13C and δ15N isotope analysis of bone collagen. Subsequently, attempts were made to determine social status differences between age and gender groups. Elemental Analysis-Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (EA-IRMS) was used for bone collagen isotope analysis measurements. The data obtained show that the δ13C values of adult individuals in Adramytteion range from a maximum of -18.5‰ to a minimum of -19.74‰, with an average of -19.23‰; δ15N values range from a maximum of 10.77‰ to a minimum of 7.17‰, with an average of 9.35‰. These data indicate that the Adramytteion community was primarily fed by terrestrial C3 plants and animals. The difference between the minimum and maximum values for δ13C and δ15N is 1.24‰ and 3.6‰, respectively. Statistical analysis of the wide distribution range observed between δ15N values revealed a significant relationship between age group and dietary habits.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Istanbul University

Project Number

37489

Thanks

This study is derived from the doctoral thesis titled “A Comparative Study of Dietary Patterns in Panaztepe, Adramytteion and Yoncatepe Skeletal Collections by Stable Isotope Analysis,” prepared by the first author under the supervision of the second author at the Department of Anthropology, Institute of Social Sciences, Istanbul University. It is also a revised and expanded version of the book chapter titled “Determination of Dietary Habits of Adramytteion People in the Byzantine Period Using Stable Isotope Analysis” in “Colloquium Mysium I: Mysia and Neighboring Cultures” (2025, Ed. Alper S., Özgen, H.M., p. 1-17). We would like to thank the Scientific Research Project Coordination Unit of Istanbul University (IU-BAP) (Project nos. 37489, 36688) for providing financial support for the study and the TUBITAK MAM researchers and Dr. H. Murat Özgen, Head of Adramytteion Research Unit, and his team for their technical contributions to the work.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Nutritional Anthropology

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Ayşegül Şahin ^*
Türkiye

Derya Atamtürk
Türkiye

Turhan Doğan
0000-0002-1917-8437
Türkiye

İzzet Duyar
0000-0002-4578-0528
Türkiye

Publication Date

December 31, 2025

Submission Date

December 12, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 29, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 15 Number: 2

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA93SU75UL

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Şahin, A., Atamtürk, D., Doğan, T., & Duyar, İ. (2025). Dietary habits in the Byzantine Western Anatolia: a stable isotope examination of Adramytteion skeletons. Eurasian Journal of Anthropology, 15(2), 57-69. https://izlik.org/JA93SU75UL

AMA

1.Şahin A, Atamtürk D, Doğan T, Duyar İ. Dietary habits in the Byzantine Western Anatolia: a stable isotope examination of Adramytteion skeletons. Euras J Anthropol. 2025;15(2):57-69. https://izlik.org/JA93SU75UL

Chicago

Şahin, Ayşegül, Derya Atamtürk, Turhan Doğan, and İzzet Duyar. 2025. “Dietary Habits in the Byzantine Western Anatolia: A Stable Isotope Examination of Adramytteion Skeletons”. Eurasian Journal of Anthropology 15 (2): 57-69. https://izlik.org/JA93SU75UL.

EndNote

Şahin A, Atamtürk D, Doğan T, Duyar İ (December 1, 2025) Dietary habits in the Byzantine Western Anatolia: a stable isotope examination of Adramytteion skeletons. Eurasian Journal of Anthropology 15 2 57–69.

IEEE

[1]A. Şahin, D. Atamtürk, T. Doğan, and İ. Duyar, “Dietary habits in the Byzantine Western Anatolia: a stable isotope examination of Adramytteion skeletons”, Euras J Anthropol, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 57–69, Dec. 2025, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA93SU75UL

ISNAD

Şahin, Ayşegül - Atamtürk, Derya - Doğan, Turhan - Duyar, İzzet. “Dietary Habits in the Byzantine Western Anatolia: A Stable Isotope Examination of Adramytteion Skeletons”. Eurasian Journal of Anthropology 15/2 (December 1, 2025): 57-69. https://izlik.org/JA93SU75UL.

JAMA

1.Şahin A, Atamtürk D, Doğan T, Duyar İ. Dietary habits in the Byzantine Western Anatolia: a stable isotope examination of Adramytteion skeletons. Euras J Anthropol. 2025;15:57–69.

MLA

Şahin, Ayşegül, et al. “Dietary Habits in the Byzantine Western Anatolia: A Stable Isotope Examination of Adramytteion Skeletons”. Eurasian Journal of Anthropology, vol. 15, no. 2, Dec. 2025, pp. 57-69, https://izlik.org/JA93SU75UL.

Vancouver

1.Ayşegül Şahin, Derya Atamtürk, Turhan Doğan, İzzet Duyar. Dietary habits in the Byzantine Western Anatolia: a stable isotope examination of Adramytteion skeletons. Euras J Anthropol [Internet]. 2025 Dec. 1;15(2):57-69. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA93SU75UL