New home, new diet? Reconstruction of diet at the 10th century CE Hungarian Conquest period site of Kenezl.o-Fazekaszug from stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses

The first Hungarians settled the Carpathian Basin in the 9th and 10th centuries CE, during the Hungarian Conquest. The 10th century CE Kenezl.o-Fazekaszug is one of several cemeteries from this period that exist across present-day Hungary. Although stable isotope studies have investigated the diet of medieval Europeans, this paper details the first dietary research performed on a Hungarian Conquest period population. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses were undertaken on dental enamel (n = 18) and dentin (n = 17) to determine childhood diet. Enamel apatite delta C-13 values average at 9.5 parts per thousand and dentin collagen delta C-13 values at -16.0 parts per thousand. Dentin collagen delta N-15 values have a mean of 11.9%. Additionally, stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses were performed on bone apatite (n = 21) and collagen (n = 22) to determine adulthood diet. Bone apatite delta C-13 values average at 11.1 parts per thousand. Bone collagen delta C-13 and delta N-15 values have an average of 17.0 parts per thousand and 11.5 parts per thousand, respectively. These results suggest that C-3 plants were the primary plant type utilized by the population but also that C-4 plants were consumed in varying quantities. This data supports the archaeological evidence that C-3 plants dominated C-4 plants in early medieval Europe. The delta N-15 values show that this population consumed moderate amounts of animal protein, as well as that adult males had preferential access to animal protein. This study reveals new information about diet during a formative time in Hungarian history.

Automated summary

This study investigates the dietary habits of a Hungarian population during the Hungarian Conquest period, including both childhood and adulthood diets. The results suggest a primary consumption of C-3 plants, with some intake of C-4 plants. The population consumed moderate amounts of animal protein, with adult males having preferential access to animal protein.