Stable isotope data of Neolithic and Eneolithic populations in the Balkans, 6600 to 4000 BC

Stable isotopic ratios of carbon and nitrogen performed on collagen and tooth enamel offer invaluable insight into the diet of ancient populations. In the northern Balkans, most of these isotopic data have been collected as auxiliary information of radiocarbon dates, to correct a potential marine reservoir effect. In order to facilitate the access of the academic community to these data, we present a set of isotopic carbon and nitrogen ratios of human collagen samples for 188 individuals from 12 previously published sites together with hitherto unreleased data for 24 individuals from 4 sites from the Neolithic and Eneolithic period in Bulgaria and Romania. This collection also includes previously published carbon isotopic ratio measurements on tooth enamel of 34 individuals. (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc.

Automated summary

Stable isotopic ratios of carbon and nitrogen in collagen and tooth enamel provide valuable insights into the diet of ancient populations. This study presents a collection of isotopic data from human collagen samples and tooth enamel measurements for individuals from various archaeological sites in the northern Balkans, offering access to previously unpublished data.