Angelina Siebert 1, Nicole Nicklisch 1, Sandra Pichler 3, Corina Knipper 1, Robert Ganslmeier 2, Suse Friederich 2, Veit Dresely 2, Kurt W. Alt 1 1 Institute of Anthropology, Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz; 2 Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologie Sachsen-Anhalt und Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte; 3 Institute for Prehistory and Archaeological Science IPAS, University of Basel. Gregg SA (1988) Foragers and farmers. Population interaction and agricultural expansion in prehistoric Europe (University Press, Chicago). Hedges REM, Reynard LM (2007) Nitrogen isotopes and the trophic level of humans in archaeology. Journal of Archaeological Science 34:1240–1251. Kohn JM (1999) You Are What You Eat. Science 15:335–336. Longing R (1971) New method of collagen extraction for radiocarbon dating. Nature:241–242. Minagawa M, Wada E (1984) Stepwise enrichment of 15N along food chains - further evidence and the relation between δ15N and animal age. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta:1135–1140. Müldner G, Richards MP (2005) Fast or feast: reconstructing diet in later medieval England by stable isotope analysis. Journal of Archaeological Science:39–48. Nehlich O et al. (2009) Mobility or migration: a case study from the Neolithic settlement of Nieder-Mörlen (Hesse, Germany). Journal of Archaeological Science 36:1791–1799. Semal P, Orban R (1995) Collagen Extraction from Recent and Fossil Bones: Quantitative and Qualitative Aspects. Journal of Archaeological Science 22:463–467. Prowse TL et al. (2008) Isotopic and dental evidence for infant and young child feeding practices in an imperial Roman skeletal sample. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 137:294–308. van Klinken GJ (1999) Bone collagen quality indicators for palaeodietary and radiocarbon measurements. Journal of Archaeological Science:687–695. Chronological sequence of Neolithic cultures in the Mittelelbe-Saale-ragion (graphics by A. Siebert, database by R. Schwarz, LDA Sachsen-Anhalt) Neolithic food web of central Germany based on the collected data. Humans represent the top of the food chain, their isotope values are mostly concentrated in a field of omnivore diet. A large amount of adults and infants shows enriched δ 15 N-values due to a higher input of animal protein on the one hand and signals of breastfeeding, respectively. The lowest δ 15 N-values are related with herbivore species such as cattle, sheep and goat. Omnivore specimens such as pigs reach a higher trophic level, the diet of the dogs is most similar to that of the humans. Especially the herbivore specimens show a large variety of values, which might be the result of different livestock farming patterns and/or environmental parameters. Pigs are concentrated within a field typical for omnivore specimens, showing both herbivore and omnivore values. At least two young cattle seem to have been butchered while still breastfed. Corresponding author: Angelina Siebert A chronological related increase of δ 15 N-values indicates an improving supply with animal protein