Neolithic Lifeways at the Microlevel: Isobiographies From Italy

Abstract

Characterization of prehistoric lifeways tends to work at the level of generalization, but can we investigate microvariation? For example, it is common to discuss the “Neolithic diet”, but how much did what people ate vary, not only between individuals but from year to year or from place to place? Similarly, discussions of mobility tend to focus either on large-scale population movements or on lifelong changes in residence, implying that people remained statically in their villages under other circumstances, but how much did people normally move around the landscape? The “isobiography” approach we apply here combines fine-grained incremental sampling of multiple isotopes to investigate these questions. Here, we explore the life histories of five Neolithic individuals from Passo di Corvo (Foggia) and Titolo (Bari) in Puglia, southeastern Italy, by analyzing the stable carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur isotopic signals from bone elements and dentine increments. Our findings unveil nuanced individual narratives. Variations in breastfeeding and weaning practices suggest flexible cultural norms; aquatic resources may have been introduced during weaning and their consumption continued during childhood in some individuals. Broadly, our findings reveal adaptations throughout the lifespans studied, potentially reflecting dietary shifts or physiological responses to climatic, environmental, or nutritional challenges. Additionally, our data indicate connections beyond local contexts: Some individuals were mobile over short ranges (Passo di Corvo), whereas others displayed connections to more distant inland locations (Titolo). Our study underscores the complexity of Neolithic lifeways, demonstrating variations not only between individuals but also within the lifespan of a single individual.