Neolithic Human Diet Based on Studies of Coprolites from the Swifterbant Culture Sites, the Netherlands

Abstract

In recent years, several researchers have illustrated the potential of X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) in the study of archaeological soils and artefacts. Hunt et al., Huisman et al., Wang et al., Qvarnström et al., and Shillito et al. have already foreseen and even demonstrated the added value of the technique for the investigation of ancient coprolites.114 Coprolites contain partially digested macro-food remains which can be distinguished on a micro-CT scan when they are large enough and contrast sufficiently in terms of X-ray attenuation values and/or patterns with the faecal mass. The scans of coprolites provide a direct and non-destructive way to assess diets from the past.