09 February 2010

Physical Anthropology

Chapter 6 - Diet in Imperial Rome

Roman non-elite ate lots of wheat, some meat. Millet and beans for yokels, a little fish for the city folk. De gustibus...

Physical Anthropology

Chapter 5 - Disease in Ancient Rome

Romans not terribly healthy, but more so than most preindustrial populations, particularly in dental health. All that horse pee paid off.

Physical Anthropology

Chapter 10 - Combined Sr/O Isotope Analysis

Well over one-third of the sample population from Rome were born elsewhere. Most of these people came to Rome as children. Both males and females immigrated.

Physical Anthropology

Chapter 9 - Oxygen Isotope Analysis of Human Skeletal Remains

Oxygen better distinguishes immigrants because variation in these isotopes is well-known. Regardless, more studies need to be done as individuals from Rome were strikingly different from Portus Romae.

08 December 2009

Physical Anthropology

Chapter 8 - Strontium Analysis of Human Skeletal Remains

Unsurprising: Rome composed of city slickers, suburbanites, foreigners. Surprising: Strontium and aqueducts distinguish among them.

Physical Anthropology

Chapter 4 - Bioarchaeological Context (Human Skeletal Remains from Rome)

2 sites (CE and CB), 2 contexts (urban/suburban), 209 skellies. Urban peeps shorter but longer-lived than suburban ones. More men in city, women in suburbs.

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