Archaeo-biological reconstruction of the Italian medieval population of Colonna (8th–10th centuries CE)

Baldoni, Marica; Nardi, Alessandra; Müldner, Gundula; Lelli, Roberta; Gnes, Micaela; Ferraresi, Francesca; Meloni, Valentina; Cerino, Pamela; Greco, Simone; Manenti, Guglielmo; Angle, Micaela; Rickards, Olga; Martínez-Labarga, Cristina

doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2016.11.013

Cited by 10 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…This could be indicative of sex-specific dietary differences in this area, with males (20-40 years old) having a diet more rich in animal proteins (mean + 9.99 ± 0.69‰) compared to females (+ 9.80 ± 0.52‰). This is also in accordance with studies on prehistoric and historic populations, suggesting that males had a larger amount of meat and dairy product components in their diets (Moghaddam et al 2016(Moghaddam et al , 2018Reitsema et al 2010;Baldoni et al 2016). However, when looking at isotopic differences between sexes, the metabolic variations as well as the different bone turnover rates in skeletal elements need to be considered (Fahy et al 2017;Olsen et al 2014).…”

Section: Varying Social Status and Grave Goodssupporting

confidence: 91%

“…An increase of δ 15 N values provides information on the trophic level, as prey-predator collagen enrichment accounts for δ 15 N values of + 3 to + 5‰ (Ambrose 1993;Hedges and Reynard 2007;Lee-Thorp et al 1989). The trophic level enrichment for δ 13 C is less increased with approximately + 1‰ (DeNiro and Epstein 1978;Minagawa and Wada 1984). Analyses from faunal bones are fundamental to reconstruct the faunal-human trophic relationship (Van Klinken et al 2000).…”

Section: Stable Isotope Measurements: Reconstructing Diet and Mobilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Early medieval Italian Alps: reconstructing diet and mobility in the valleys

Paladin

Moghaddam

Stawinoga

et al. 2020

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

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In Early Middle Ages (sixth-eleventh centuries AD), South Tyrol (Italian Alps) played a key role for geographical and military reasons. Historical sources document that allochthonous groups (germani) entered the territory, and the material culture shows mutual cultural exchanges between autochthonous and germani. Besides the nature of the migration, the demographic and socio-cultural impacts on the local population are still unknown. Stable isotope analyses were performed to provide insights into dietary patterns, subsistence strategies, changes in socio-economic structures, and mobility, according to spatial (e.g. valleys, altitudes) and chronological (centuries) parameters. Bone collagen of 32 faunal and 91 human bone samples from nine sites, located at different altitudes, was extracted for stable carbon, nitrogen, and sulphur isotope analyses. In total, 94% (30/32) of the faunal remains were of good quality, while the humans displayed 93% (85/91) of good quality samples for δ 13 C and δ 15 N and 44% (40/91) for δ 34 S stable isotopes. The isotopic results of the animals reflected a terrestrial-based diet. Statistical differences were observed within and among the humans of the different valleys. The δ 13 C values of individuals sampled from higher altitudes indicated a mainly C 3 plant-based diet compared to areas at lower altitudes, where more positive δ 13 C values showed an intake of C 4 plants. The δ 15 N values suggested a terrestrial-based diet with a greater consumption of animal proteins at higher altitudes. The data revealed higher variability in δ 34 S values in the Adige valley, with individuals probably migrating and/or changing dietary habits.

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Section: Varying Social Status and Grave Goodssupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Stable Isotope Measurements: Reconstructing Diet and Mobilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Early medieval Italian Alps: reconstructing diet and mobility in the valleys

Paladin

Moghaddam

Stawinoga

et al. 2020

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

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“…The North-Eastern Medieval populations were characterized by a low animal protein intake, (although freshwater fish intake has been suggested for some [90]), whereas at Montella (Southern Italy), the analysed population was associated with a Franciscan friary and so there is the potential that this monastic population followed a distinctive dietary regime [91]. Although Colonna and Santa Severa are present in the same region of Italy, a differential access to nutritional sources related to sex and age at death in this case, was detected at Colonna [19]. In particular, at Colonna, adult male individuals demonstrated a greater intake of animal protein with respect to females and juveniles, who followed a more vegetarian diet [19].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

“…Indeed, North-Eastern Italy, experienced an onward decline in bread consumption which was substituted by soups [90]. With regard to nitrogen isotopes, the population from Santa Severa was more enriched in 15 N than several sites across Medieval Italy, namely Romans d'Isonzo and Mainizza in the North East [90], Colonna (8 th -10 th centuries; [19]) in Central Italy, and Montella (13 th -15 th centuries; [91]) in Southern Italy. The North-Eastern Medieval populations were characterized by a low animal protein intake, (although freshwater fish intake has been suggested for some [90]), whereas at Montella (Southern Italy), the analysed population was associated with a Franciscan friary and so there is the potential that this monastic population followed a distinctive dietary regime [91].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A multidisciplinary approach for investigating dietary and medicinal habits of the Medieval population of Santa Severa (7th-15th centuries, Rome, Italy)

et al. 2020

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A multidisciplinary approach, combining stable isotope analysis from bone proteins and investigations on dental calculus using DNA analysis, light microscopy, and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, was applied to reconstruct dietary and medicinal habits of the individuals recovered in the cemetery of the Castle of Santa Severa (7 th-15 th centuries CE; Rome, Italy). Stable isotope analysis was performed on 120 humans, 41 faunal specimens and 8 charred seeds. Dental calculus analyses were carried out on 94 samples. Overall, isotope data indicated an omnivorous diet based on C 3-terrestrial protein, although some individuals possessed carbon values indicative of C 4 plant consumption. In terms of animal protein, the diet was probably based on cattle, sheep, pig and chicken products, as witnessed by the archaeozoological findings. Evidence from calculus suggested the consumption of C 3 cereals, Fabaceae, Fagaceae, milk and dairy products. Secondary metabolites of herbs and wine were also detected. The detection of marine fish ancient DNA, as well as of ω3 fatty acids in calculus, hypothesized the consumption of marine foodstuffs for this coastal population, despite the lack of a clear marine isotopic signal and the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids in plant tissues. Moreover, the knowledge of ethnopharmacological tradition and the application of medicinal plants (e.g. Punica granatum L., Ephedra sp. L.) were also identified. The detection of artemisinin, known to have antimalarial properties, led to hypothesize the presence of malaria in the area. Altogether, the combined application of microscopy and biomolecular techniques provided an innovative reconstruction of Medieval lifeways in Central Italy.

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Paleodemography: From archaeology and skeletal age estimation to life in the past

Boldsen

Milner

Ousley

2021

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

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Much of paleodemography, an interdisciplinary field with strong ties to archaeology, among other disciplines, is oriented toward clarifying the life experiences of past people and why they changed over time. We focus on how human skeletons contribute to our understanding of preindustrial demographic regimes, including when changes took place that led to the world as we know it today. Problems with existing paleodemographic practices are highlighted, as are promising directions for future work. The latter requires both better age estimates and innovative methods to handle data appropriately. Age‐at‐death estimates for adult skeletons are a particular problem, especially for adults over 50 years that undoubtedly are mistakenly underrepresented in published studies of archaeological skeletons. Better age estimates for the entirety of the lifespan are essential to generate realistic distributions of age at death. There are currently encouraging signs that after about a half‐century of intensive, and sometimes contentious, research, paleodemography is poised to contribute much to understandings of evolutionary processes, the structure of past populations, and human‐disease interaction, among other topics.

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Archaeo-biological reconstruction of the Italian medieval population of Colonna (8th–10th centuries CE)

Cited by 10 publications

References 37 publications

Early medieval Italian Alps: reconstructing diet and mobility in the valleys

Early medieval Italian Alps: reconstructing diet and mobility in the valleys

A multidisciplinary approach for investigating dietary and medicinal habits of the Medieval population of Santa Severa (7th-15th centuries, Rome, Italy)

Paleodemography: From archaeology and skeletal age estimation to life in the past

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