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

Angelo Gismondi, Marica Baldoni, Micaela Gnes, Gabriele Scorrano, Alessia D'Agostino, Gabriele Di Marco, Giulietta Calabria, Michela Petrucci, Gundula Muldner, Matthew Von Tersch, Alessandra Nardi, Flavio Enei, Antonella Canini, Olga Rickards, Michelle Alexander, Cristina Martinez-Labarga*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

29 Citations (Scopus)
26 Downloads (Pure)

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 (7th-15th 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 omega 3 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.

Original languageEnglish
Article number0227433
JournalPLoS ONE
Volume15
Issue number1
Number of pages30
ISSN1932-6203
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • STABLE-ISOTOPE ANALYSIS
  • DENTAL CALCULUS
  • BONE-COLLAGEN
  • PLANT MICROFOSSILS
  • MASS-SPECTROMETRY
  • ORGANIC RESIDUES
  • SOUTHERN EUROPE
  • TROPHIC LEVEL
  • ANCIENT DNA
  • MIDDLE-AGES

Cite this