Environment and nutrition of prehistoric miners in Hallstatt

Hallstatt is one of the most famous prehistoric saltmining areas is Europe because of its substantial and valuably findings in the prehistoric burial ground as well as in the pits of the salt deposit. Organic material embedded in the saline rock of the mine shows an exquisite state of preservation and contains a great deal of information about prehistoric lifestyle. Although a little disgusting the prehistoric human faeces of the miners belong to the most remarkable findings in the excavated pits: firstly, the preservation of such manky objects is extremly rare in temperate zones. Secondly, these faeces provide us with direct ample information about prehistoric diet, environment and seasonality of the mining activities in Hallstatt. A coprolite analysis of these faeces can add a lot to understand the daily life of these prehistoric saltminers in more detail. Another strength of the site is the preservation of lots of animal and human bones. This enables also palaeodiet studies by means of stable isotope analysis (e.g. 13C, 15N). This approach will result in an unprecededent comparative study of prehistric diet by means of coprolite analysis and stable isotopes (13C, 15N) on material of the same site. Whereas coprolite analysis bears a short-term signal, the stable isotope has a long-term one. At no time these two methods were compared with each other on prehistoric material at the same site. Therefore it can be expected that the conclusions of this comparative study will present new essential information on the interpretation of palaeodietary reconstructions gained either by corpolite analysis or stable isotopes. Mining activities in Hallstatt reach back to the Bronze ages, but the the beginnings of anthropogenic interference are not precisely known up to now. A palynological investigation of mire deposits at the entrance of the Salzberg valley will present the hitherto unkonwn vegetation history of the area. The palynological investigation will also contribute new data about the settlement history of Hallstatt and provide essential environmental data for the interpretation of the coprolite analysis in terms of environment and seasonality. The results of this archaeobotanical investigations are compared and discussed with the archaeological evidences known so far to enlighten new details of the prehistoric Hallstatt peoples daily life.

This project deals about the reconstruction of the diet of prehistoric salt miners from Hallstatt and Dürrnberg/Hallein based on a comparision of stable isotope analysis ( 13C, 15N) of ancient bones and of micro and macrofossil analysis of ancient feces collected from the two prominent prehistoric salt mines in Austria. Overall both methods reveal the same results that the prehistoric miners fed on a omnivorous diet composed of a mix of plant and animal foods. The micro and macrofossil analyses of faeces provide a more detailed insihgt into the alimental plants. Barley (Hordeum vulgare), broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum), emmer (Triticum dicoccum), spelt (Triticum spelta) and broad bean (Vicia faba), beside gathered wild fruits and meat were preferably eaten. Additionally several faeces show high values of insect-pollinated herbs (Centaurea, Trifolium, Tilia, Filipendula, Mentha, Rosaceae, Salix, etc.), which are common components of honey in the Alps. This indicates the consumption of honey and honey products (mead) of the workers in the mines. Furthermore, in several faeces of the Dürrnberg population wormwood (Artemisia) occurs in values unusually found in natural deposits. Its pollen shows a significant correlation with eggs of endoparasites, which suggests an intentional uptake of wormwood to avoid dyspepsia caused by the endoparasitic infestation. Concerning the isotope analysis ( 13C, 15N) a large difference of +3.9-4.5 between the mean nitrogen isotopic values of fauna and humans, together with a higher than expected carbon isotopic difference between humans and fauna is surprising. This indicates either that protein other than that from herbivores must have been consumed (e.g domestic fowl, freshwater fish) or, the large nitrogen isotopic difference between humans and fauna, (currently accepted value of 3-4 for the nitrogen trophic level effect) is too small. If the latter is the case, then this would result in an interpretation of a lower amount of meat and animal products in the diet, which can be confirmed for the Hallstatt but not for the Dürrnberg population. Additionally the vegetation and settlement history of the Hallstatt area was evaluated by pollen analysis of two mires located in the Salzbergtal. Human impact is detected since the 4th millennium BC. Distinct clearances are recorded from 1500 BC onwards, and persist until the 4th century BC, where a small but distinct reduction becomes visible. During Roman Times the human interference is reduced drastically and rises not until the 16th century AD. All in all the palynological data agree very well with the settlement history of the Salzbergtal known so far from archaeological and historical data.