Isotopic analysis of Paleo-diet on Skeletons from the Necropolis at Castel Sozzio, Viterbo, Italy

Abstract

Abstract: The discovery of a necropolis situated in the province of Viterbo in the municipality Civitella d’Agliano, at Castel Sozzio, has given way to gain knowledge on this region’s role during the Late Roman Period and the Early Middle Ages. There is little known about this site as it has been excavated from 1997-1998 and then resumed for a couple of months in 2020 under the direction of prof Emanuela Borgia (Dipartamento di Scienze dell’ Antichità, Sapienza Università di Roma). As well as lack of material evidence, as there is still so much more to discover, there have been no written records found about the site either. Therefore, multiple studies of the material found at the site are of great importance. My role and contribution to this project is that of performing Paleo-diet Analysis. Nutrition is undoubtedly one of human beings' needs, and studying paleo-diet helps us to establish the key food resources and their evolution over time. The information gathered will provide us an understanding of the food and consumption of humans throughout that time period by evaluating carbon and nitrogen levels in human samples. Knowing what kind of diet they followed, provides insight into the resources available, as well as the climate, environment, food chemistry processes, trade, economy, as well as social status. A total of 25 samples were studied; 7 animal bones and 18 humans. The human samples vary in age and include both females and males as well as children. These 25 samples were chosen and prepared at the Laboratory of Biology of Ancient Populations headed by Prof. Alfredo Coppa. After that, they were then chemically analyzed at the Laboratory of Paleoanthropology and Bioarchaeology led by Professor Giorgio Manzi and Mary-Anne Tafuri who runs the Isotopic Laboratory in Sapienza University, as well. 24 out of the 25 samples were ready for the isotopic mass spectrometry analyses which took place at Iso-Analytical Limited Laboratory in the United Kingdom. The findings will provide us with information about a significant portion of Castel Sozzio's population. These discoveries will inevitably lead to new questions, revealing more and more about life in Civitella d’Agliano