Isotopic evidence for dietary diversity at the mediaeval Islamic necropolis of Can Fonoll (10th to 13th centuries CE), Ibiza, Spain

The diet of the population interred at the Islamic necropolis of Can Fonoll, Ibiza, Spain, which was in use between the 10th and 13th centuries AD, is reconstructed from the carbon (delta C-13) and nitrogen (delta N-15) stable isotope ratios of bone collagen from 112 individuals. The mean +/- sd (1 sigma) delta C-13 (-19.0 +/- 1.3 parts per thousand) and delta N-15 (10.3 +/- 0.8 parts per thousand) values of the Can Fonoll population indicate a diet based largely on terrestrial C-3 resources. However, the wide range of both delta C-13 (-20.6 parts per thousand to -8.6 parts per thousand) and delta N-15 (7.0 parts per thousand to 12.1 parts per thousand) values attested at Can Fonoll indicate significant variation in individual diet. The elevated delta C-13 values of a small proportion of the individuals buried at Can Fonoll are consistent with the consumption of a large proportion of, or dependence on, C-4 resources, such as millet. Comparison of the delta C-13 and delta N-15 values of the Can Fonoll population with those of other mediaeval populations fromthe Balearic Islands and mainland Spain highlights a wide range of stable isotope values, which reflects not only significant differences in diet but also points to widespread mobility within the Mediterranean Basin. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.