SUBSISTENCE STRATEGIES OF THE LBK SITE AT ŽÁDOVICE (MORAVIA, CZECH REPUBLIC)
Channel: European Association of Archaeologists
Date: 2021-03-30

Site  Žádovice  (south  Moravia)  is  a  polycultural  site  with  substantial  settlement  features  dated  to  the  LBK,  the  early  phase  (I)  being the most pronounced. To this phase belong the most of the archaeologically detected features (such as ground plans of houses,  burials).  We  are  currently  focusing  on  the  reconstruction  of  subsistence  strategies  of  the  local  early  LBK  community  within  the  complex  study  of  the  site.  Research  is  at  the  moment  focused  mainly  on  the  anthropological  material  from  burials.  Their primary anthropological analysis has been already carried out (Čižmář – Geislerová 1998). Pathological signs of buried indi-viduals (mostly children) are consistent with the consumption of a plant-based diet (teeth abrasion, anemia). This kind of diet is also confirmed by multiple finds of tools used for processing plants processing (grinding stones). Buried individuals are currently being dated by 14C dating. The ratio of stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) is being established in order to reconstruct paleodiet. Present  results  of  radiocarbon  dating  showed  surprisingly  old  dates  (6300–5600  calBC).  Therefore  it  is  necessary  to  obtain  more 14C data and do more analyses (for example aDNA) to establish the chronology and understand the economic and social aspects of the past community. It is worth considering whether the old dating could not have been caused by a certain kind of diet (such as reservoir effect caused by consuming fish). To verify this hypothesis the osteological material of domestic animals was analyzed (C14 dating). The exceptional character of site Žádovice might be emphasized by the atypical position in the land-scape, which might have influenced the subsistence strategy of the local inhabitants. Results of this study may contribute to better understanding the way of life of the local community in the context of the LBK in Central Europe.


Author(s): Cerevková, Alžbeta (Moravian Museum, Czech Republic; Masaryk University)