Exploring Diversity in Neolithic Agropastoral Management in Mainland Greece Using Stable Isotope Analysis

New stable carbon (?13C) and nitrogen (?15N) isotope values of charred plant bone collagen remains from 6th mill. BCE Halai, central Greece, together with datasets Kouphovouno, southern later 6th/early 5th Makriyalos, northern demonstrate how early farming communities in mainland Greece adapted mixed strategies to distinct local environmental cultural settings. Intra-site similarities differences ?13C ?15N crop species, along the intra-species variabilities isotopic values, are used assess cultivation choices that farmers at three sites made fulfil economic goals. At cultivated multiple crops under variable soil conditions, a strategy likely geared towards minimising overall risk relatively arid coastal setting. better-watered by contrast, practiced strategic manuring maximise yield free-threshing wheat, grown exclusively for human consumption rotated nitrogen-fixing pulses. limited sample size cereal suggests lack intensive manuring, contrast two other sites. Assessment which may have been consumed livestock sheds further light on symbiotic relationships between animal husbandry.