The North-Eastern Europe and Northern Asia isotopic dataset of bioarchaeological samples (NEENA)

TL;DR

The NEENA dataset provides over 18,700 isotopic measurements from archaeological samples across North-Eastern Europe and Northern Asia for studying ancient diets, environments, and human mobility.

Contribution

The paper introduces a comprehensive open-access isotopic dataset from archaeological samples across a vast geographic and temporal range.

Findings

The dataset includes isotopic data from over 750 sites spanning 70,000 years BP to modern times.

Each record includes taxonomic, contextual, and laboratory details for comparative paleo-studies.

NEENA supports research on diet, mobility, environmental conditions, and radiocarbon effects.

Abstract

The North-Eastern Europe and Northern Asia open-access dataset (NEENA) is a compilation of over 18,700 isotopic measurements (δ13C, δ15N, δ34S, δ18O, 87Sr/86Sr), predominantly from archaeological human, animal, and plant samples originating from more than 750 sites ranging geographically from the Baltic and Eastern Europe to North-Central Asia and dating between 70,000 years BP and modern times. For each isotope record included in the dataset, information relating to the taxonomic categorisation of the sampled material (e.g., animal and plant species or genus names), the sample type (e.g., bone, dentine, enamel) and contextual, chronological, provenance (i.e., site location and country), and laboratory details are provided where available from original publications. The NEENA dataset can be used to conduct comparative studies of palaeodiet, spatial mobility, paleo-environmental conditions, organic remains preservation, and radiocarbon reservoir effects. NEENA is available in an open-access format via the Pandora data platform.

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