The Study
Interpretation of the Analysis of Stable Nitrogen and Carbon Isotopes in Human and Animal Bone Tissue (Selivanovsky II Burial Ground in the Southern Trans-Urals)
This study looked at the chemical traces in ancient bones to guess what people and animals ate long ago. It can tell us that these people probably ate more meat and milk than animals, but it can't prove that eating meat made them who they were.
Analysis score
Maximum 44 for a cross-sectional study.
Where the score came from
Scientists studied bones from ancient people and their animals to figure out what they ate long ago.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 529 / 100
Quality score
Snapshots of a population at a single point in time, or descriptions of small groups. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine cause and effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1This means they ate mostly beef and horse meat/dairy — like a protein-heavy diet with no fish or grains — which was normal for their time and place.
- 2Human bones had nitrogen levels (δ¹⁵N: 9.7–11.15‰) much higher than cows and horses (4.6–5.35‰), meaning humans ate mostly meat and dairy.
- 3Their carbon levels (δ¹³C: –19.16‰ to –18.57‰) show they didn’t eat fish or corn-like plants.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Problems of Archaeology, Ethnography, Anthropology of Siberia and Neighboring Territories
Year
2025
Authors
A.V. Epimakhov, E.O. Vasyuchkov, Y.V. Rafikova
Related Content
Claims (6)
Isotopic analysis of ancient human bones from the Selivanovsky II burial site shows that the individuals consumed primarily meat from land animals like cattle and horses, with little to no intake of fish or plants such as maize.
Analysis of bone collagen from 12 ancient individuals shows differences in nitrogen isotope levels between childhood and adulthood, indicating changes in protein consumption during life.
A person buried at Selivanovsky II had chemical signatures in their bones that indicate they ate different proteins or lived in a different environment during childhood compared to others in the group.
Isotopic analysis of cattle and horse bones from the Selivanovsky II burial site shows they ate C3 plants, and this evidence confirms they were the main source of protein for the people buried there.
People buried at the Selivanovsky II site ate the same types of food, even if they were not genetically related or had moved from different places.
Analysis of ancient human bones shows higher nitrogen-15 levels than those found in other top predators, which indicates that humans primarily consumed animal tissue.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.