Lifestyle of a Roman Imperial community: ethnobotanical evidence from dental calculus of the Ager Curensis inhabitants.
J Ethnobiol Ethnomed
; 15(1): 62, 2019 Dec 04.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31801550
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The analysis of ancient calcified dental plaque is a powerful archaeobotanical method to elucidate the key role of the plants in human history.METHODS:
In this research, by applying both optic microscopy and gas chromatography mass spectrometry on this matrix, a detailed qualitative investigation for reconstructing the lifestyle of a Roman imperial community of the Ager Curensis (Sabina Tiberina, Central Italy) was performed.RESULTS:
The detection of animal micro-remains and molecules (e.g., hairs, feather barbules, markers of dairy products), starch granules of several cereals and legumes, pollen (e.g., Juglans regia L., Hedera sp. L.) and other plant micro-debris (e.g., trichome of Olea sp., hemp fibers), and phytochemicals (e.g., Brassicaceae, Lamiaceae herbs, Ferula sp., Trigonella foenum-graecum L., wine, and Humulus lupulus L.) in the dental calculus sample demonstrated that plant-derived foods were regularly consumed together with animal resources.CONCLUSIONS:
This nutritional plan, consistent with the information reported in ancient written texts, suggested that the studied population based its own subsistence on both agriculture and husbandry, probably also including beekeeping and hunting activities. All together, these results represent proofs for the comprehension of food habits, phytotherapeutic practices, and cultural traditions of one of the first Roman settlements in the Sabina Tiberina area.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Arqueología
/
Cálculos Dentales
/
Etnobotánica
/
Dieta
/
Estilo de Vida
Tipo de estudio:
Qualitative_research
Límite:
Animals
/
Humans
País/Región como asunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Ethnobiol Ethnomed
Asunto de la revista:
CIENCIAS SOCIAIS
/
MEDICINA
Año:
2019
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Italia