Palaeodietary analysis of the Bronze Age and early Iron Age populations from the Minusinsk Basin, southern Siberia, Russia

The main objective of the study is to understand the dietary changes that occurred between the prehistoric populations of the area, and also to investigate the consumatory differences between the people of different sexes, ages and social groups. The study explores five main archaeological cultures and populations - the Afanasyevo, Okunevo Andronovo Karasuk and Tagar Cultures, dated from the 3rd millennium BC to the beginning of the 1st millennium AD.<br><br>Two main research methods have been employed: stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis and dental palaeopathological analysis.

Statistical analysis (linear correlation and chi-square test) of the burials and radiocarbon dating of the human bone have also been utilized. A total of 313 humans were analysed.<br><br>The results indicate that the diet of the Afanasyevo - Andronovo populations of the Minusinsk Basin was primarily based on C3 sources and gradually transformed into diet based on a mixture of C3 and C4 sources in the Karasuk and Tagar Culture.