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Isotopic evidence for age‐related immigration to imperial Rome
Author(s) -
Prowse Tracy L.,
Schwarcz Henry P.,
Garnsey Peter,
Knyf Martin,
Macchiarelli Roberto,
Bondioli Luca
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
american journal of physical anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1096-8644
pISSN - 0002-9483
DOI - 10.1002/ajpa.20541
Subject(s) - population , demography , molar , immigration , geography , archaeology , geology , paleontology , sociology
Oxygen stable isotope ratios (δ 18 O) have been determined in carbonate in paired first and third molar teeth from individuals ( N = 61) who lived in the town of Portus Romae (“Portus”) and who were buried in the necropolis of Isola Sacra (First to Third centuries AD) near Rome, Italy. We compare these analyses with data for deciduous teeth of modern Roman children. Approximately one‐third of the archaeological sample has first molar (M1) values outside the modern range, implying a large rate of population turnover at that time, consistent with historical data. Delta 18 O ap values suggest that a group within the sample migrated to the area before the third molar (M3) crown had completely formed (i.e., between 10 and 17.5 years of age). This is the first quantitative assessment of population mobility in Classical antiquity. This study demonstrates that migration was not limited to predominantly single adult males, as suggested by historical sources, but rather a complex phenomenon involving families. We hypothesize that migrants most likely came from higher elevations to the East and North of Rome. One individual with a higher δ 18 O value may have come (as a child) from an area isotopically similar to North Africa. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.