The paleodietary reconstruction of Roopkund skeletons through trace element analysis

Abstract

Palaeodietary reconstruction, a rapidly emerging field of multidisciplinary archaeology, helps to reconstruct prehistoric people’s food consumption or subsistence behavior. Trace element analysis plays a vital role in the palaeodietary reconstruction of prehistoric populations. Trace elements such as Strontium (Sr), Zinc (Zn), Barium (Ba), Calcium (Ca), Copper (Cu), Magnesium (Mg), and Iron (Fe) found in the human bone provide valuable indicators for reconstructing dietary behavior of the ancient human population. It has been observed that the concentration of the trace element Zn depleted from herbivore to carnivore, whereas it is reversed in the case of Sr. The present study of the dietary behavior of the Roopkund skeletons shows higher concentrations of strontium than Zn, as reported in the human skeletons of Roopkund. Based on preliminary results, a significant component of vegetal material can be ascertained in the diet of most of the human skeletons reported from the Roopkund region.