The Islamic cemetery at 33 Bartomeu Vicent Ramon, Ibiza: investigating diet and mobility through light stable isotopes in bone collagen and tooth enamel

A significant dietary shift during Islamic rule (ca. AD 950–1150) on the island of Ibiza, part of UNESCO's Biodiversity and Culture site, is revealed through stable isotope analysis. Contrary to expectations based on bone collagen, tooth enamel carbonate indicates that C4 crops—likely millet or sorghum—contributed up to 40% of energy intake, suggesting a more diverse diet than previously assumed. The study also identifies outliers in both collagen and carbonate isotopes, hinting at individuals with non-local origins, possibly reflecting mobility patterns during this period. This research underscores the complexity of dietary practices and cultural exchanges in the western Mediterranean, offering new insights into subsistence strategies and regional connectivity.

Dury, G., Lythe, A., Marquez-Grant, N., Garcia-Rubio, A., Graziani, G., Mari, J., Ziriax, M., & Schulting, R. (2018). The Islamic cemetery at 33 Bartomeu Vicent Ramon, Ibiza: investigating diet and mobility through light stable isotopes in bone collagen and tooth enamel. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 11(8), 3913–3930. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-018-0644-4