Grim up North? Exploring the diet of urban populations in post-medieval Greater Manchester, England, using stable isotope analysis

Chidimuro, B., Holst, M., Newman, S., Keefe, K., Collins, M., J. and Alexander, M. (2023) Grim up North? Exploring the diet of urban populations in post-medieval Greater Manchester, England, using stable isotope analysis. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 15 (11). 174. ISSN 1866-9565 doi: 10.1007/s12520-023-01881-7

Abstract/Summary

Historical evidence suggests that social status played a major role in all aspects of society in 18th-19th century England. We present an insight into how socioeconomic status affected the dietary habits of two post-medieval urban populations from Greater Manchester, northwest England. Stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope ratios were measured in humans from Cross Street Unitarian Chapel (middle-class: n=90) in Manchester city centre and Chapel Street Hazel Grove (lower status with few middle-class individuals: n=34). A large sample of 111 faunal remains from Cross Street (n=37) and Norton Priory, Cheshire (n=74) provide an animal baseline, dramatically expanding the post-medieval animal isotopic dataset for England. Sheep from Norton Priory show high δ15N isotope values indicative of saltmarsh grazing. Results for human populations revealed a mixed diet of plant and animal protein from C3 terrestrial environments with some potential contribution of aquatic protein. Significant differences revealed between the two populations indicate unequal access to food by status. Intra-population variation at Hazel Grove suggests dietary distinctions by age and sex. Non-adults consumed diets poor in high trophic level protein, whereas adult males consumed greater amounts of animal products. Conversely, the data suggests that at the wealthier Cross Street, there was greater access to high trophic level protein by all. Comparisons between the Manchester populations and those from similar socioeconomic classes from the Midlands and southern England, including London, reveal a bioarchaeological picture of dietary diversity and differential access to resources which impact significantly on wellbeing during this tumultuous period of industrial England.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/113913
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science > Department of Geography and Environmental Science Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science > Department of Archaeology
Publisher	Springer
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