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

Abstract

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.

Diversity aboard a Tudor warship: investigating the origins of theMary Rosecrew using multi-isotope analysis

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Integrative analysis of DNA, macroscopic remains and stable isotopes of dog coprolites to reconstruct community diet

“…Stable isotope analyses can be used to infer the protein sources and types of plants consumed, and provide a complementary, broader view of an organism’s diet. Recent studies of coprolites, bone and dental calculus using a combination of archaeological, isotopic and genetic methods revealed a wealth of information about ancient human populations in Italy 35 , Argentina 36 , Puerto Rico 37 , and eastern North America 38 .…”

Exploring late Paleolithic and Mesolithic diet in the Eastern Alpine region of Italy through multiple proxies

“…In particular, dental wear, dental pathologies and, when preserved, prehistoric dental calculus have shown to be pivotal in obtaining data on diet, cultural habits, and health status (Cristiani et al, 2018; El Zaatari & Hublin, 2014; Fiorenza, 2015; Fiorenza, Benazzi, Oxilia, & Kullmer, 2018; Fiorenza & Kullmer, 2013, 2015; Grippo, Simring, & Schreiner, 2004; Henry, Hudson, & Piperno, 2009; Lussi, 2006; Metcalf, Ursell, & Knight, 2014; Molnar & Molnar, 1990; Oxilia et al, 2018; Radini, Buckley, Nikita, Copeland, & Hardy, 2017; Sameera, Singh, & Nitya, 2017; Sorrentino et al, 2018; Warinner et al, 2014; Weyrich et al, 2017). While successfully applied to the analysis of historical contexts (e.g., Baldoni et al, 2018; Figus et al, 2017; Gismondi et al, 2020; Radini, Nikita, & Shillito, 2016; Vazzana et al, 2018), the proxies mentioned above have sporadically been combined in prehistoric reconstructions (Fiorenza et al, 2015), potentially leading to a lack of information about ancient dietary habits.…”