The first dietary stable isotope data from the Cunkani-Drengeri Iron Age population (seventh-eleventh centuries CE) from Latvia

The main aim of this research was to study diet and possible social stratification in the Iron Age population of Cunkani-Drengeri from Latvia through burial practice and dietary isotope analysis. This research also used previously published comparative dietary isotope data from archaeological populations in Latvia of various periods of time, not only Iron Age, to see if and how Iron Age populations were different. Carbon and nitrogen dietary isotope analysis showed that the diet for all groups and individuals (N = 29) at Cunkani-Drengeri was largely homogenous, regardless of their gender, or social status as expressed by grave goods. Archaeological evidence for increased social stratification in this population occurs from the tenth-eleventh centuries CE, probably in response to changes in trade. Isotopically the Cunkani-Drengeri population was different than the contemporary comparative population from Latvia, indicative of differential subsistence strategies. The mean delta N-15 value in the Cunkani-Drengeri population was the lowest yet observed in Latvia, and the lowest among other archaeological populations from the wider region used in this study, which might be indicative of reliance on animal protein sources with lower delta N-15 values, or lower local delta N-15 baseline compared to other regions.