A new archaeological study sheds light on the dietary practices of the ancient Cretans during the peak of Neo-palatial Knossos, revealing equitable access to food resources and its impact on the site’s social and political stability.

The recent study published by Argyro Nafplioti in the Oxford Journal of Archaeology analyzes social status differences in the diet at palace-era Knossos, a key site in second-millennium B.C. Crete. This period, known as Neo-palatial, spans approximately from 1700 to 1500 B.C., a time marked by the growth and prosperity of Knossos.

Knossos was a center of economic and cultural activity in the eastern Mediterranean, with archaeological and textual evidence documenting its importance. Linear B tablets, storage structures, archaeobotanical and zooarchaeological remains, along with lipid residue analysis in vessels, offer a detailed picture of the palace-controlled agricultural and pastoral practices.

Location of the studied cemeteries around the palace
Location of the studied cemeteries around the palace. Credit: A. Nafplioti

The study is based on the analysis of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) in skeletal remains from two cemeteries, Ailias and Lower Gypsades. This technique allows for the reconstruction of historical diets, providing a “chemical footprint” that directly links the food and water consumed with the individuals’ body tissues.

Through this methodology, the researchers have been able to trace the diets of the ancient inhabitants of Knossos and assess how the availability and access to different types of food varied over time.

The study’s results reveal that there was no significant differentiation in access to food resources based on the sex or social position of the individuals buried in the analyzed cemeteries. Both men and women had access to a rich and varied diet composed of animal and plant proteins.

The palace of Knossos in Crete
The palace of Knossos in Crete. Credit: Cayambe / Wikimedia Commons

During the Neo-palatial period, there was an increase in the availability of animal proteins, coinciding with Knossos’s political and economic supremacy. This equitable distribution of food resources may have been a crucial factor in maintaining social stability and avoiding factional competition and unrest.

The comparison of isotopic data from Knossos with other contemporary sites in Crete, such as Armenoi, provides additional context for understanding the dietary practices and social structure of the time. In contrast to other sites where greater inequalities were recorded, Knossos seems to have maintained notable social cohesion.

The researchers conclude that the equitable living conditions in Knossos during the Neo-palatial period may have contributed to the absence of factional competition and social unrest, potentially explaining the site’s continuity in post-palatial times despite widespread destruction elsewhere in Crete. This finding offers a new perspective on the importance of resource management in the cohesion and stability of ancient societies.

SOURCES

Nafplioti A. (2024)  Eating Like The Elite At Neo-palatial Knossos, Oxford Journal of Archaeology, doi: doi.org/10.1111/ojoa.12305

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