Life history of the individuals buried in the St. Benedict Cemetery (Prague, 15th-18th Centuries): Insights from 14C dating and stable isotope (δ13C, δ15N, δ18O) analysis (original) (raw)

Funerary practices and bioarchaeological (sex and age) data suggest that a mortality crisis linked to an epidemic episode occurred during the fifth phase of the St. Benedict cemetery in Prague (Czech Republic). To identify this mass mortality episode, we reconstructed individual life histories (dietary and mobility factors), assessed the population's biological homogeneity, and proposed a new chronology through stable isotope analysis (d 13 C, d 18 O and d 15 N) and direct radiocarbon dating. Stable isotope analysis was conducted on the bone and tooth enamel (collagen and carbonate) of 19 individuals from three multiple graves (MG) and 12 individuals from individual graves (IG). The d 15 N values of collagen and the difference between the d 13 C values of collagen and bone carbonate could indicate that the IG individuals had a Grant sponsors: La Maison des Sciences de l'Homme d'Aquitaine