Diet, gender and rank
Abstract
The archaeology of rank is in many respects the basis for the study of social organisation in ancient societies. Here burial data are considered as closely related to the social position in life. Rank-indicating features marking social position can then be correlated with biological features such as sex, age, kinship, pathological traits, and dietary data, which are possible to study with scientific methods. This study concerns seven boatgraves at Tuna, Alsike parish, Uppland, Sweden, dating to the Vendel and Viking Periods. Molecular sex identifications, stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses, and trace element analysis were performed on human bones to gain information on the social structure of the population. No dietary hierarchy, and thus no gender differences, could be detected. However, since we now only have studied the upper stratum of the society, next study should concern the rest of the population. This is already underway since we believe this approach is fruitful for the study of archaeological rank and its implications.
