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Formichella G, Soncin S, Lubritto C, Tafuri MA, Fernandes R, Cocozza C. Introducing Isotòpia: A stable isotope database for Classical Antiquity. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0293717. [PMID: 38829878 PMCID: PMC11146721 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
We present Isotòpia, an open-access database compiling over 36,000 stable isotope measurements (δ13C, δ15N, δ18O, δ34S, 87Sr/86Sr, 206Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb, 208Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/206Pb, and 208Pb/206Pb) on human, animal, and plant bioarchaeological remains dating to Classical Antiquity (approximately 800 BCE - 500 CE). These were recovered from different European regions, particularly from the Mediterranean. Isotòpia provides a comprehensive characterisation of the isotopic data, encompassing various historical, archaeological, biological, and environmental variables. Isotòpia is a resource for meta-analytical research of past human activities and paleoenvironments. The database highlights data gaps in isotopic classical archaeology, such as the limited number of isotopic measurements available for plants and animals, limited number of studies on spatial mobility, and spatial heterogeneity of isotopic research. As such, we emphasise the necessity to address and fill these gaps in order to unlock the reuse potential of this database.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Formichella
- Dipartimento di Biologia Ambientale and Mediterranean bioArchaeological Research Advances (MAReA) Centre, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, Italy
| | - Silvia Soncin
- Dipartimento di Biologia Ambientale and Mediterranean bioArchaeological Research Advances (MAReA) Centre, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, Italy
| | - Carmine Lubritto
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche (DiSTABiF) and Mediterranean bioArchaeological Research Advances (MAReA) Centre, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Caserta, Italy
| | - Mary Anne Tafuri
- Dipartimento di Biologia Ambientale and Mediterranean bioArchaeological Research Advances (MAReA) Centre, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, Italy
| | - Ricardo Fernandes
- Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, Jena, Germany
- Faculty of Archaeology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
- Arne Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, Brno-střed, Czech Republic
- Climate Change and History Research Initiative, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States of America
| | - Carlo Cocozza
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche (DiSTABiF) and Mediterranean bioArchaeological Research Advances (MAReA) Centre, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Caserta, Italy
- Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, Jena, Germany
- ArchaeoBioCenter (ABC), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany
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Bagnasco G, Marzullo M, Cattaneo C, Biehler-Gomez L, Mazzarelli D, Ricciardi V, Müller W, Coppa A, McLaughlin R, Motta L, Prato O, Schmidt F, Gaveriaux F, Marras GB, Millet MA, Madgwick R, Ballantyne R, Makarewicz CA, Trentacoste A, Reimer P, Mattiangeli V, Bradley DG, Malone C, Esposito C, Breslin EM, Stoddart S. Bioarchaeology aids the cultural understanding of six characters in search of their agency (Tarquinia, ninth-seventh century BC, central Italy). Sci Rep 2024; 14:11895. [PMID: 38806487 PMCID: PMC11133411 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61052-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Etruria contained one of the great early urban civilisations in the Italian peninsula during the first millennium BC, much studied from a cultural, humanities-based, perspective, but relatively little with scientific data, and rarely in combination. We have addressed the unusual location of twenty inhumations found in the sacred heart of the Etruscan city of Tarquinia, focusing on six of these as illustrative, contrasting with the typical contemporary cremations found in cemeteries on the edge of the city. The cultural evidence suggests that the six skeletons were also distinctive in their ritualization and memorialisation. Focusing on the six, as a representative sample, the scientific evidence of osteoarchaeology, isotopic compositions, and ancient DNA has established that these appear to show mobility, diversity and violence through an integrated bioarchaeological approach. The combination of multiple lines of evidence makes major strides towards a deeper understanding of the role of these extraordinary individuals in the life of the early city of Etruria.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Bagnasco
- Dipartimento di Beni Culturali e Ambientali, CRC "Progetto Tarquinia", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - M Marzullo
- Dipartimento di Beni Culturali e Ambientali, CRC "Progetto Tarquinia", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - C Cattaneo
- LABANOF (Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense), Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - L Biehler-Gomez
- LABANOF (Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense), Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - D Mazzarelli
- LABANOF (Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense), Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - V Ricciardi
- LABANOF (Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense), Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - W Müller
- Institute of Geosciences, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Frankfurt Isotope and Element Research Center (FIERCE), Goethe University, Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - A Coppa
- Dipartimento di Storia Antropologia Religioni Arte Spettacolo, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - R McLaughlin
- Hamilton Institute, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland
| | - L Motta
- Department of Classical Studies and Program in the Environment, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
| | - O Prato
- Institute of Archaeology, UCL University College London, London, UK
| | | | - F Gaveriaux
- Kelsey Museum of Archaeology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
| | | | - M A Millet
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
| | - R Madgwick
- Cardiff School of History, Archaeology and Religion, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - R Ballantyne
- School of Archaeology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - C A Makarewicz
- Institut für Ur- und Frühgeschichte, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - A Trentacoste
- Institut für Ur- und Frühgeschichte, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - P Reimer
- School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT7 1NN, UK
| | - V Mattiangeli
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin2, Ireland
| | - D G Bradley
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin2, Ireland
| | - C Malone
- School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT7 1NN, UK
| | - C Esposito
- Dipartimento di Beni Culturali, Alma Mater Studiorum, Università di Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - E M Breslin
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin2, Ireland
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Riccomi G, Simonit R, Maudet S, Scott E, Lucas M, Giuffra V, Roberts P. Diets, stress, and disease in the Etruscan society: Isotope analysis and infantile skeletal palaeopathology from Pontecagnano (Campania, southern Italy, 730-580 BCE). PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302334. [PMID: 38748638 PMCID: PMC11095689 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Susceptibility to morbidity and mortality is increased in early life, yet proactive measures, such as breastfeeding and weaning practices, can be taken through specific investments from parents and wider society. The extent to which such biosocialcultural investment was achieved within 1st millennium BCE Etruscan society, of whom little written sources are available, is unkown. This research investigates life histories in non-adults and adults from Pontecagnano (southern Italy, 730-580 BCE) in order to track cross-sectional and longitudinal breastfeeding and weaning patterns and to characterize the diet more broadly. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of incrementally-sampled deciduous and permanent dentine (n = 15), bulk bone collagen (n = 38), and tooth enamel bioapatite (n = 21) reveal the diet was largely based on C3 staple crops with marginal contributions of animal protein. Millet was found to play a role for maternal diet and trajectories of breastfeeding and feeding for some infants and children at the site. The combination of multiple isotope systems and tissues demonstrates exclusive breastfeeding was pursued until 0.6 years, followed by progressive introduction of proteanocius supplementary foods during weaning that lasted between approximately 0.7 and 2.6 years. The combination of biochemical data with macroscopic skeletal lesions of infantile metabolic diseases and physiological stress markers showed high δ15Ndentine in the months prior to death consistent with the isotopic pattern of opposing covariance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Riccomi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Division of Paleopathology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, Jena, Germany
| | - Rachele Simonit
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Division of Paleopathology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Erin Scott
- Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, Jena, Germany
| | - Mary Lucas
- The Arctic University Museum of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, isoTROPIC Research Group, Jena, Germany
| | - Valentina Giuffra
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Division of Paleopathology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Patrick Roberts
- Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, Jena, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, isoTROPIC Research Group, Jena, Germany
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Parkinson EW, Stoddart S, Sparacello V, Bertoldi F, Fonzo O, Malone C, Marini E, Martinet F, Moggi-Cecchi J, Pacciani E, Raiteri L, Stock JT. Multiproxy bioarchaeological data reveals interplay between growth, diet and population dynamics across the transition to farming in the central Mediterranean. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21965. [PMID: 38081902 PMCID: PMC10713518 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49406-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The transition to farming brought on a series of important changes in human society, lifestyle, diet and health. The human bioarchaeology of the agricultural transition has received much attention, however, relatively few studies have directly tested the interrelationship between individual lifestyle factors and their implications for understanding life history changes among the first farmers. We investigate the interplay between skeletal growth, diet, physical activity and population size across 30,000 years in the central Mediterranean through a 'big data' cross-analysis of osteological data related to stature (n = 361), body mass (n = 334) and long bone biomechanics (n = 481), carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotopes (n = 1986 human, n = 475 animal) and radiocarbon dates (n = 5263). We present the observed trends on a continuous timescale in order to avoid grouping our data into assigned 'time periods', thus achieving greater resolution and chronological control over our analysis. The results identify important changes in human life history strategies associated with the first farmers, but also highlight the long-term nature of these trends in the millennia either side of the agricultural transition. The integration of these different data is an important step towards disentangling the complex relationship between demography, diet and health, and reconstruct life history changes within a southern European context. We believe the methodological approach adopted here has broader global implications for bioarchaeological studies of human adaptation more generally.
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Affiliation(s)
- E W Parkinson
- Archaeology & Palaeoecology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
| | - S Stoddart
- Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - V Sparacello
- Dipartimento di Scienze della vita e dell'ambiente, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - F Bertoldi
- Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici, Università Ca Foscari Venezia, Venice, Italy
| | - O Fonzo
- Museo Archeologico "Genna Maria" di Villanovaforru, Villanovaforru, Italy
| | - C Malone
- Archaeology & Palaeoecology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - E Marini
- Dipartimento di Scienze della vita e dell'ambiente, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - F Martinet
- Soprintendenza per i beni e le Attività Culturali della Valle d'Aosta, Aosta, Italy
| | - J Moggi-Cecchi
- Dipartimento Di Biologia, Università degli Studi Firenze, Florence, Italy
| | - E Pacciani
- Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio di Firenze, Pistoia e Prato, Florence, Italy
| | - L Raiteri
- Soprintendenza per i beni e le Attività Culturali della Valle d'Aosta, Aosta, Italy
| | - J T Stock
- Department of Anthropology, Western University, London, Canada
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Gigante M, Mazzariol A, Bonetto J, Armaroli E, Cipriani A, Lugli F. Machine learning-based Sr isoscape of southern Sardinia: A tool for bio-geographic studies at the Phoenician-Punic site of Nora. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0287787. [PMID: 37467179 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Since prehistoric times, the island of Sardinia-in the western Mediterranean-has played a leading role in the dynamics of human population and mobility, in the circulation of raw materials and artefacts, idioms and customs, of technologies and ideas that have enriched the biological, linguistic and cultural heritage of local groups. For the Phoenician and Punic periods (from the 9th to the 3rd centuries BCE), the ancient site of Nora-in southern Sardinia-represents an emblematic case in the study of migratory phenomena that occurred on the Island from the Iron Age until the Roman conquest. Despite the importance of exploring (and characterising) such movements from a wider bio-cultural perspective, the application of bio-geochemical tools for geographical provenance to the ancient skeletal populations of Sardinia is yet scarce. The present work is the first step towards filling this gap with the development of the first isoscape of southern Sardinia using new bioavailable Sr isotope data and a machine-learning approach. From a geolithological point of view, Sardinia is rather heterogeneous and requires detailed studies to correctly assess the distribution of the isotopic signature of bioavailable Sr. The random forest model employed here to construct the Sr isoscape uses several external environmental and geological variables. The most important predictors are related to age and bedrock type, with additional input from local soil properties. A 10-fold cross-validation gives a mean square error of 0.0008 and an R-squared of 0.81, so the model correctly predicts the 87Sr/86Sr ratio of unknown areas. By using a Bayesian provenance assignment workflow, we tested the isoscape here produced to determine the geographic origin and the mobility of archaeological and modern fauna collected from the Phoenician-Punic site of Nora and the surrounding Pula Plain. Our results indicate that archaeological sheep and goats (87Sr/86Sr < 0.7090) are compatible with areas close to Nora and Pula Plain, in agreement with archaeological evidence of pastoralism in those areas. Modern wild and domesticated fauna (87Sr/86Sr > 0.7090) show compatibility with several natural and anthropogenic locations in southern Sardinia, as expected based on modern species distribution data. Finally, we discuss the large Sr isotopic variability of the Nora baseline, where human mobility studies of human cremated and inhumed individuals are currently underway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melania Gigante
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Jacopo Bonetto
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Elena Armaroli
- Department of Chemical and Geological Science, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Anna Cipriani
- Department of Chemical and Geological Science, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York, United States of America
| | - Federico Lugli
- Department of Chemical and Geological Science, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
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