Nitrogen and carbon isotopes in reconstructing diet and mode of life of the middle don population in the scythian period (the case study of the Ternovoe-Kolbino kurgan cemetery)

The paper explores possibilities for applying one of modern paleodietary methods, namely, analysis of the stable isotope composition of bone tissue collagen. The data obtained are used for reconstructing the type of economy and livelihood activities and substantially enrich our knowledge of the population with traditions of kurgan burials in the Middle Don region during the Scythian period. The paper uses paleoanthropologicacemeteries of the late 5th- 4th centuries BC. The results characterize the composition of typical dietary intake as predominantly protein (meat and milk) plus a heterogeneous plant component. One of its variants are C4 plants, supposedly, millet.