Stable isotope analysis of the dietary habits of a Greek community in Archaic Syracuse (Sicily): a pilot study

Abstract

The study and reconstruction of ancient dietary habits has become a very significant topic in archaeological research. Most chemical analysis studies for diet at Greek sites are limited to prehistory, with very few examples of studies for the Classical period. This paper represents a pilot study of stable isotope analysis carried out on a group of 15 individuals selected among the population interred in the Archaic necropolis of Scala Greca at Syracuse (Sicily), a cemetery discovered in 2010-2011. Based on the funerary assemblages and certain features such as shape, dimensions, coverage system and architectural features, a preliminary distinction has been made based on apparent wealth on a diagnostic sample of 15 tombs to test possible variations in diet. Carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses were conducted on bone collagen, which represents dietary protein, and bone apatite, which represents the whole diet. The highly negative collagen carbon isotope values indicate little if any seafood in the diet, and this is supported by the nitrogen isotope modest values, which are consistent with terrestrial foods and do not suggest higher trophic level fish.

Diets, stress, and disease in the Etruscan society: Isotope analysis and infantile skeletal palaeopathology from Pontecagnano (Campania, southern Italy, 730–580 BCE)

“…With the aim of evaluating similarities or differences with the diet at Pontecagnano-Chiancone II, we conducted comparisons with the limited available dietary isotope data from other pre-Roman groups in Italy with similar chronology. Previous stable isotope analyses of bone collagen revealed a homogeneous pattern across different Italic groups [14,[192][193][194][195][196], whether from urban or rural contexts, indicating exclusive access to food sources within a C 3 ecosystem with no differences by sexes or age. An exception is represented by the role of fish sources in the diet of a sample of adults from Greek colony of Metaponto (7 th to 2 nd centuries BCE, Basilicata) who showed a mixed diet with terrestrial sources from a C 3 ecosystem integrated with marine sources [197].…”

Diet and differentiation in the Roman province of Macedonia: A bioarchaeological approach

“…When possible, femora were chosen as the target skeletal element, as their isotopic values reflect the average composition of long-term dietary inputs in human diets. In the absence of femoral elements, humeral and tibial shafts (Tanasi et al, 2018), or proximal hand phalanges were sampled instead (Kaupová et al, 2018;Mion et al, 2019). An effort has been made to avoid sites where pathological lesions occurred.…”

“…Femoral bone samples of approximately 5 to 8 gr were preferentially taken from the proximal antero-medial shaft using an electric hand-held rotary tool (Bourbou et al, 2011;Prowse, 2011;Tanasi et al, 2018). To account for absent femoral elements, tibial and/or humeral shafts (Tanasi et al, 2018), or the proximal hand phalanges were alternatively sampled (Kaupová et al, 2018;Mion et al, 2019). Attention was given to avoid sites where pathological lesions occurred.…”