Speaker
Description
This work presents an integrated archaeometric research program aimed at reconstructing subsistence strategies, economic networks, and population dynamics at Pompeii and in the Vesuvian area at the time of the AD 79 eruption. The project combines stable isotope analyses (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N) on human, animal and botanical remains to refine dietary reconstructions and investigate agricultural and husbandry practices within the broader environmental and socio-economic framework. Baseline isotopic models are being developed to contextualize trophic relationships and resource availability, enabling a more robust interpretation of human paleodiet and economic organization.
Preliminary results indicate distinct dietary patterns among Vesuvian communities, with clear differentiation between terrestrial and marine resource use. The botanical and faunal isotopic baselines reveal diversified agricultural regimes and livestock management strategies, while radiocarbon analyses refine the chronology of occupation and post-eruptive reorganization.
Early dentin δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N data suggest structured and relatively homogeneous weaning practices, consistent with different patterns observed in other Roman sites such as Ostia Antica.
Strontium results demonstrate both local individuals and non-local signatures, supporting a scenario of moderate mobility and integration within wider economic networks.
Furthermore, an ongoing detailed multidisciplinary study of the site of Oplontis combines dietary reconstruction, mobility assessment, anthropological and paleopathological analysis to produce a comprehensive biocultural profile of its inhabitants.
Finally, the project includes a dissemination initiative which develops public-facing multimedia content for the exhibition “L’Altra Pompei - Vite comuni all’ombra del Vesuvio”, highlighting the analytical potential of organic materials in archaeological research.
Together, these integrated approaches advance our understanding of daily life, health, mobility, and economic organization in the Vesuvian region prior to the eruption, demonstrating the interpretive power of combined isotopic, chronological and anthropological analyses.