Diet, mobility and death of Late Neolithic and Chalcolithic groups of the Cantabrian Region (northern Spain). A multidisciplinary approach towards studying the Los Avellanos I and II burial caves

Abstract This paper reconstructs the diet and lifeways of Late Neolithic and Chalcolithic farming groups in the Cantabrian Region (northern Spain) using human remains found at Los Avellanos I and II (Alfoz de Lloredo, Cantabria). A bioarchaeological study was conducted, alongside radiocarbon dating and stable isotope analyses (δ13C, δ15N, δ34S) of human (n = 7) and animal (n = 3) bone collagen. Both caves were used as a burial location between the 4th and 3rd millennium cal. BC. Taphonomic analysis of the human remains shows post-depositional activity within both sites after the burial. The δ13C and δ15N results show that the prehistoric individuals ate a predominantly terrestrial diet, with animal protein from meat and likely dairy products being an important resource. Despite the proximity to the coastline, the δ13C and δ15N values demonstrate that marine resources were not being consumed in any great quantity by these Late Neolithic and Chalcolithic individuals. The δ34S results show heterogeneity among the people buried in both caves. The majority of individuals had higher δ34S values typical of living in coastal areas, but three individuals had lower δ34S values, indicative of living further inland for at least some of their lives, suggesting human mobility between inland and coastal areas.