A multidisciplinary approach for investigating dietary and medicinal habits of the Medieval population of Santa Severa (7th-15th centuries, Rome, Italy)
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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). / Gismondi, Angelo; Baldoni, Marica; Gnes, Micaela; Scorrano, Gabriele; D'Agostino, Alessia; Di Marco, Gabriele; Calabria, Giulietta; Petrucci, Michela; Muldner, Gundula; Von Tersch, Matthew; Nardi, Alessandra; Enei, Flavio; Canini, Antonella; Rickards, Olga; Alexander, Michelle; Martinez-Labarga, Cristina.
In: PLoS ONE, Vol. 15, No. 1, 0227433, 2020.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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T1 - A multidisciplinary approach for investigating dietary and medicinal habits of the Medieval population of Santa Severa (7th-15th centuries, Rome, Italy)
AU - Gismondi, Angelo
AU - Baldoni, Marica
AU - Gnes, Micaela
AU - Scorrano, Gabriele
AU - D'Agostino, Alessia
AU - Di Marco, Gabriele
AU - Calabria, Giulietta
AU - Petrucci, Michela
AU - Muldner, Gundula
AU - Von Tersch, Matthew
AU - Nardi, Alessandra
AU - Enei, Flavio
AU - Canini, Antonella
AU - Rickards, Olga
AU - Alexander, Michelle
AU - Martinez-Labarga, Cristina
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - STABLE-ISOTOPE ANALYSIS
KW - DENTAL CALCULUS
KW - BONE-COLLAGEN
KW - PLANT MICROFOSSILS
KW - MASS-SPECTROMETRY
KW - ORGANIC RESIDUES
KW - SOUTHERN EUROPE
KW - TROPHIC LEVEL
KW - ANCIENT DNA
KW - MIDDLE-AGES
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0227433
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0227433
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 31990948
VL - 15
JO - PLoS ONE
JF - PLoS ONE
SN - 1932-6203
IS - 1
M1 - 0227433
ER -
ID: 246824697