The missing mushrooms: searching for fungi in ancient human dietary analysis

O'Regan, Hannah J.; Lamb, Angela L.; Wilkinson, David M.

Abstract

Fungi are a common part of modern human diets, but are rarely discussed in an archaeological context. Power et al. (2015) published data on bolete spores in human tooth calculus, suggesting that Upper Palaeolithic peoples ate mushrooms. Here we briefly consider the likelihood of mushroom consumption in the past, and examine whether or not stable isotopes may provide a way of seeing this in archaeological populations. We also consider the complexities of fungal stable isotopes using our own data and that from the literature. We conclude that fungi are highly variable isotopically, and are an additional dietary factor that should be considered when trying to interpret ‘terrestrial’ carbon isotope signatures combined with relatively high nitrogen isotope values in humans and other animals. Substantial mushroom ingestion could, in some cases, result in isotope values that may be interpreted as considerable meat consumption.

Citation

O'Regan, H. J., Lamb, A. L., & Wilkinson, D. M. (2016). The missing mushrooms: searching for fungi in ancient human dietary analysis. Journal of Archaeological Science, 75, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2016.09.009

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 30, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Oct 14, 2016
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Oct 10, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 14, 2016
• Journal: Journal of Archaeological Science
• Print ISSN: 0305-4403
• Electronic ISSN: 1095-9238
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 75
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2016.09.009
• Keywords: Diet; Fungus; Carbon; Nitrogen; Sulphur; Stable isotope; Protein
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/974359
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305440316301455
• Contract Date: Oct 10, 2016