Reconstructing Diet in Medieval Thebes (Greece), through stable isotope technique

Abstract

The European medieval environment had an impact on human diet, promoting access to non-local food sources and developing food disparities along socioeconomic and religious hierarchies (i.e. Adamson, 2004). In particular, it could be expected that in diverse cultural environments; such as in Greek populations during the Frankish period; dietary differentiations would be quite distinct between groups of people with different cultural/ethnic identity and consequently socioeconomic status. Hence, the excellent preserved population of Aghia Triada in Thebes (13th-14th c. AD) is suited in order to investigate diet during a highly diversified and stratified period of time in Greek history (For more information regarding the historical context of the stated population see Archaeological Museum of Thebes: The period of Western Rule and Michael et al., forthcoming publication). The basic aim of the present study is to reconstruct the dietary habits of the stated population by quantifying the individual human diet (sex and age related differences are assessed in Michael et al., forthcoming publication).