Sex and age-related social organization in the Neolithic: A promising survey from the Paris Basin
Résumé
Previous studies have identified differences based on sex in adult diet and age-based changes in the funerary treatment of children in the Neolithic of northern France. This preliminary study investigates sex-based differences and age-related changes in diet and mobility in childhood in comparison to adulthood.
Nineteen individuals from the Neolithic Yonne valley (Paris Basin) were analyzed for δ13C and δ15N in dentine of the second permanent molar (M2) and 15 also for δ34S. Analyses were performed on different tooth parts depending on the individuals and targeted different age groups: bulk coronal (ca. 2.5–8.5 years; n = 16 adults) and root dentine (ca. 8.5–12 years; n = 1 juvenile) and dentine microsections of the entire tooth (6 age groups between 2.5 and 16 years old; n = 2 adults).
Higher δ15N values in dentine than in adult bone reflect children’s dietary specificity, possibly due to their nutritional needs during growth. There is no mean isotopic difference in coronal dentine between males and females under 9 years old. Dietary sex-based division occurs later. Two isotopic shifts are observed on the incremental profiles, indicative of social transitions, possibly sex-related, around 8–9 and 14 years old. The variability of δ34S values highlights different mobility patterns between the sexes and argues for patrilocality. These results echo previous studies and offer a promising perspective which must be investigated further on a larger sample size.
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