Forest herding and tree fodder in Neolithic Europe: comparing δ13C values in caprine enamel with archaeobotanical evidence at lake shore settlements in Switzerland and the French Jura.

This set of data reports the results of sequential analysis of stable isotope (d18O and d13C) in tooth enamel of caprines (sheep and goat) from the Neolithic sites of Arbon Bleiche-3 (Switzerland), Clairvaux XIV (French Jura) and Chalain 19 (French Jura), where the consumption of forest plants by animals had been previously independently demonstrated from archaeobotanical remains. A synthesis of previously published data for Europe is also included. The objective is to establish reference d13C values for tree leaf foddering, to be used to investigate the integration of forest areas into livestock farming in Neolithic Europe.