Abstract

The ancient town of Akrai/Acrae (founded in 664/663 BC) is located in the SE Sicily in an area characterized by alluvial terraces and steep slopes cut by deep valleys. The area under the study was covered by Mediterranean wood lands, however, due to human activity, the forest began to gradually shrink around 2700 BC, putting pressure on the local fauna. Previous studies suggest that wild animals, especially red deer, inhabited open woodlands and grass-lands and their diet was rich in C4 plants. A wide range of δ15N values was attributed to seasonal differences in moisture availability. Twenty-eight faunal samples, dated between 3rd century BC and 8th century AD, collected within the Akrai/Acrae residential complex, were the subject of carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis. Seventeen samples met the standard quality criteria. The animal diet was based on C3 plants (δ13C values of herbivores: -21.7 to -20.0‰; omnivores and carnivores: -20.0 to -19.1‰). The δ15N values vary between 3.9 (fallow deer) and 7.9‰ (dog). The study confirms some earlier observations. Deer probably occupied the open woodlands relying on the C3 diet, however elevated δ15N values were not detected in the study. The authors discuss whether the previously observed higher δ15N values were due to the aridity or consumption of plants growing in the fertilized fields. High δ15N values in combination with high δ13C values could be an indicator of human induced changes deforestation and intensification of agricultural production.

Keywords:Carbon; Nitrogen; Collagen; Animal remains; Red deer; Paleoecology; Sicily