Isotopic and zooarchaeological approaches towards understanding aquatic resource use in human economies and animal management in the prehistoric Scottish North Atlantic Islands

Prehistoric populations of the North Atlantic Islands, particularly in Orkney and the Western Isles, exhibited a dynamic relationship with aquatic resources that evolved significantly over time. While coastal grazing played a crucial role in sheep management throughout prehistory in Orkney, its importance in the Western Isles emerged only during the Bronze Age. Aquatic protein also influenced pig management in the Western Isles during the Middle Iron Age. Human consumption of aquatic resources was minimal in the Neolithic period and slightly more evident in the Bronze Age but became notably significant during the Iron Age. This study integrates isotopic analysis, human isotopic evidence, and zooarchaeological data to reveal the complex and shifting roles of aquatic resources in prehistoric economies and animal management.

Jones, J. R., & Mulville, J. (2016). Isotopic and zooarchaeological approaches towards understanding aquatic resource use in human economies and animal management in the prehistoric Scottish North Atlantic Islands. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 6, 665–677. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2015.08.019