The period of the lake settlements (4000-600 BCE) covers a period of major subsistence changes in Central Europe, including the introduction of domesticates. We have demonstrated that ancient chewing gum also traps DNA from dietary sources and can, therefore, be used for palaeodietary reconstruction. We will use a similar approach to identify specific food sources of the pile-dwelling communities and to reconstruct their subsistence practices. In addition, we will use palaeoproteomics to identify dietary proteins, which can provide tissue- specific information (i.e. whether meat or dairy products were consumed). One of the advantages of working with samples from waterlogged sites is that they are often dated to the year by dendrochronology. This enables us to track changes in diet and subsistence practices over relatively short periods of time. We will integrate the data on diet and subsistence practices with existing archaeobotanical and zooarchaeological datasets and palaeoclimatic records to provide a comprehensive picture of the diet and changing subsistence practices of the pile-dwelling communities.