The stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values of human (n = 30) and animal (n = 14) remains from the Joyeong-dong burial mounds near Gyeongsan City, South Korea, are presented in this paper. The human and animal bones from each burial type also were r...
The stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values of human (n = 30) and animal (n = 14) remains from the Joyeong-dong burial mounds near Gyeongsan City, South Korea, are presented in this paper. The human and animal bones from each burial type also were radiocarbon dated in order to construct the absolute chronology. The main purpose of the research was to reconstruct human diets and social structures in the Proto-Three Kingdoms period through the stable isotope analysis of human and fauna remains from the Joyeong- dong mounds. Radiocarbon dating results showed that the Joyeong-dong burials were used from approximately 80 BC to 394 cal BC. The isotopic data indicate that the ancient people of Imdang consumed a diet mainly based on domesticated C3 plants and wild games (birds and herbivores). The results from the MixSIAR model showed that game birds represented the highest contribution to the overall diet of the Imdang people, indicating that the intensive hunting of game birds took place. Our results also showed that elites consumed more animal proteins than their retainers. Especially, in the case of the elites, the contribution of marine animals in the overall diet was high, suggesting that the regular consumption of marine fish and shellfish were a privilege for the elite class. Our study confirms that Imdang society was a highly stratified society where there was a large difference in terms of access to food resources available to each individual. In addition, it was possible to establish that the sacrificed animals found inside the graves had been used both as edible food items, as well as grave goods symbolizing the wealth of the deceased. This research therefore provides new information about the nature of resource use and social status in an early ancient state (Apdok-guk) on the Korean Peninsula.