Isotopic Results Reveal Possible Links between Diet and Social Status in Late Shang Dynasty (ca. 1250–1046 BC) Tombs at Xiaohucun, China

Abstract

Here, we present evidence of possible links between diet and social status using carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios at the site of Xiaohucun in the Central Plains, China. This pilot study from a rescue excavation yielded humans (n = 12) identified to the late Shang Dynasty (ca. 1250–1046 BC), which was a warm climatic period. The population consumed a predominately C4 diet (millets) and no difference was observed between the δ13C results of individuals (n = 7) buried with (−9.1 ± 2.8‰) and without (n = 5) bronze vessels (−8.2 ± 0.7‰). However, individuals buried with bronze vessels (10.3±1.6‰) were found to have significantly higher δ15N values (one-way ANOVA; p = 0.015) compared to individuals buried without bronze vessels (8.0 ± 0.9‰), providing evidence that possible elite members consumed more animal protein (dog, pig, cow, sheep/goat). Isotopic results were also examined for social status in relation to the number of burial coffins that an individual had: double (n = 6), single (n = 3), or no coffin (n = 3). No difference was found in the δ13C values, but variations were observed in the δ15N values: double coffin (10.2 ± 1.7‰) > single coffin (8.8 ± 1.8‰) > no coffin (8.0 ± 1.3‰), again possibly showing increased animal protein consumption linked to social status. Finally, isotopic results and status were studied by looking at the number of coffins and tomb size. Again, no correlation was observed for the δ13C results, but a strong linear correlation (R2 = 0.85) was observed for the δ15N values of the individuals buried in two coffins vs. tomb size.

Keywords

• human diet
• hierarchy
• bronze age
• carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios