Publication details
Dietary Changes due to the Collapse of the Western Roman Empire: A Case Study from Northern Italy (4th–7th centuries)
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| Year of publication | 2024 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
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| Description | The decline of the Western Roman Empire was a historical period marked by political and economic instability that influenced various aspects of society. The primary objective is to determine whether these social changes were reflected in human lifeways, specifically examining their impact on the dietary habits of the populations in northern Italy. To conduct an analysis of dietary shifts, we sampled three different populations buried in distinct urban cemeteries in Imola for stable isotope analysis. Studied grave contexts are approximately dated from the 4th to the 7th century, spanning the period before and after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. Through stable isotope analysis of carbon and nitrogen, our aim is to unveil insights into the dietary practices and adaptations made by these communities during this transformative period. This paper contributes to a broader understanding of social change following the collapse of the Roman Empire. Furthermore, the results from the Imola cemeteries will be contextualized within the results from the broader geographical area, providing a comprehensive view of dietary trends during this pivotal moment in history. |