Comprehensive review of understanding ancient dietary habits using modern analytical techniques

Abstract

Understanding ancient dietary habits is essential for reconstructing ancient lifestyles. Archaeobotanical and archaeological remains, such as seeds, plant fibers, and pottery, serve as vital indicators of agriculture and daily life. We proposed that contemporary biomolecular and analytical methods provide unique insights into dietary habits through these artifacts. To assess this, we examined recent analytical platforms utilized in isotope analysis, multi-omics techniques viz. genomics, proteomics, lipidomics, and metabolomics applied to food residues, dental calculus, coprolites, and ceramics. Isotope research has shed light on climate changes and human movement; lipid and protein examinations uncovered methods of food preparation and preservation; and multi-omics strategies have enhanced the detail of dietary reconstructions, increasingly aided by artificial intelligence. Ongoing challenges persist, such as sample preservation, contamination, and potential methodological bias. Nevertheless, our review affirms that biomolecular archaeology significantly enhances our understanding of ancient diets and sharpens archaeological interpretations regarding health, subsistence, and interactions between humans and their environment. Keywords: Ancient diet reconstruction, Biomolecular archaeology, Archaeological remnants, Isotope analysis, Lipid biomarkers, Ancient DNA (aDNA), Proteomics, Metabolomics, Archaeometry