The Biogeographic Origins of Iron Age Iapygians and Working-Class Romans from Southern Italy
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The Biogeographic Origins of Iron Age Iapygians and Working-Class Romans from Southern Italy Assessing Migration and Demographic Change in pre-Roman and Roman Period Southern Italy Using Whole-Mitochondrial DNA and Stable Isotope Analysis By: Matthew Emery, B.A., M.A. A Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in the Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy McMaster University © Copyright by Matthew Emery, December 12th, 2017 DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (2017) McMaster University (Anthropology) Hamilton, Ontario TITLE: Assessing Migration and Demographic Change in pre-Roman and Roman Period Southern Italy Using Whole-Mitochondrial DNA and Stable Isotope Analysis AUTHOR: Matthew Emery, Hons. B.A. (Western University), M.A. (McMaster University) SUPERVISORS: Dr. Tracy Prowse and Dr. Hendrik Poinar NUMBER OF PAGES: XV, 176 II Lay Abstract With biochemical information obtained from teeth, this study examines the population structure and geographic origins in two archaeological communities located in southern Italy. Analysis of classical remains has traditionally been the subject of historical and archaeological inquiry. However, new applications evaluate these population changes with integrated stable isotope and ancient DNA techniques. Overall, the biochemical results suggest that the pre-Roman communities harbor deep maternal ancestry originating from eastern Europe and the eastern Mediterannean. These results, when compared to the genetic diversity of Roman and broader Mediterranean populations, indicate that the Romans share closer genetic similarity with ancient Stone and Bronze Age communites from Europe and the eastern Mediterranean, than with the pre-Roman community studied here. Furthermore, tooth chemistry results indicate a predominantly local population buried in the Roman period cemetery. III Abstract Assessing population diversity in southern Italy has traditionally relied on archaeological and historic evidence. Although informative, these lines of evidence do not establish specific instances of within lifetime mobility, nor track population diversity over time. In order to investigate the population structure of ancient South Italy I sequenced the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from 15 Iron Age (7th – 4th c. BCE) and 30 Roman period (1st – 4th c. BCE) individuals buried at Iron Age Botromagno and Roman period Vagnari, in southern Italy, and analyzed δ18O and 87Sr/86Sr values from a subset of the Vagnari skeletal assemblage. Phylogenetic analysis of 15 Iron Age mtDNAs together with 231 mtDNAs spanning European prehistory suggest that southern Italian Iapygians share close genetic affinities to Neolithic populations from eastern Europe and the Near East. Population pairwise analysis of Iron Age, Roman, and mtDNA datasets spanning the pan-Mediterranean region (n=357), indicate that Roman maternal genetic diversity is more similar to Neolithic and Bronze Age populations from central Europe and the eastern Mediterranean, respectively, than to Iron Age Italians. Genetic distance between population age categories imply moderate mtDNA turnover and constant population size during the Roman conquest of South Italy in the 3rd century BCE. In order to determine the local versus non-local demographic at Vagnari, I measured the 87Sr/86Sr and 18O/16O of composition of 43 molars, and the 87Sr/86Sr composition of an additional 13 molars, and constructed a preliminary 87Sr/86Sr variation map of the Italian peninsula using disparate 87Sr/86Sr datasets. The relationship between 87Sr/86Sr and previously published δ18O data suggest a relatively low proportion of migrants lived at Vagnari (7%). This research is the first to generate whole-mitochondrial DNA sequences from Iron Age and Roman period necropoleis, and demonstrates the ability to gain valuable information from the integration of aDNA, stable isotope, archaeological and historic evidence. IV Acknowledgements I am deeply indebted to the councel and supervision provided by my PhD committee members, Drs. Tracy Prowse, Hendrik Poinar, and Henry Schwarcz. Their wealth of knowledge and unwavering guidance over the years was crucial in seeding my academic development. Their unconditional support for my tenuous adventures, both in the field and within the university, allowed me to attain goals and objectives far outside the parameters of my own self-directed pursuits. Words cannot capture the respect and gratitude I feel towards these exceptional scholars, colleagues, and friends. I would also like to thank my colleagues and friends (dare I say family members) at McMaster’s Ancient DNA Centre and Department of Anthropology: Dr. Robert Stark, Dr. Stephanie Marciniak, Dr. Ana Duggan, Katherine Eaton, Emil Karpinski, Tyler Murchie, Jonathan Hughes, Jessica Hider, Mel Kuch, and Debi Poinar. I am truly fortunate to have met such a wonderfully talented group of like-minded individuals. Over the years at the centre I have been able to forge some exceptional relationships. Having no previous ancient DNA experience, their guidance helped expedite my skill-set and thus facilitated my own independent wet- and dry-laboratory research, which ultimately led to the successful completion of this dissertation. I am especially thankful to Dr. Stephanie Marciniak, Jennifer Klunk, Katherine Eaton, and Emil Karpinski, for their patience during my wet laboratory training, the outcome of which led to the successful results present in this body of work. I would, without question, fared poorly without their all-around dedicated support. Their passion for the field of ancient DNA is truly inspiring, and continues to motivate me on a daily basis. I would also like to thank the previous and current teachers, mentors, and scholars who impacted my early educational development, and laid the foundation for my long journey through graduate school: Drs. Alan Dickin, Christine White, Lisa Hodgetts, Holly Martelle, Peter Timmins, Eldon Molto, Andrew Walsh, Ian Colquhoun, Tina Moffat, Aubrey Cannon, Glen Caldwell, Cam Tsujita, and Steve Hicock, and to those that escape me at the moment - place your name here. I would like to extend a very special thanks to Dr. Ana Duggan (our aDNA postdoc extraordinaire), whose careful guidance, knowledge, and quick problem solving skills were indispensable throughout the latter years of my PhD. The quality of the aDNA work herein is a direct reflection of her specific attention to detail, and is a testament of her ability to observe patience (especially in times of computer troubles), and teach complicated computational tasks quickly and with ease. I would like to extend the deepest gratitude to my parents, Denise and Rosaire Emery, and younger brother, Christopher. Words cannot express my deep thanks for your unconditional support. You have been fans of my idealism since day one, and never once discouraged me from pursuing a career in the archaeo- and palaeosciences. You encouraged imagination over status quo and, now, with a few decades under my belt, I see no better philosophy by which to live. I thank my best friends for life: Dr. Colin Labadie, Clayton DaSilva, Dr. Robert Stark, Tyler Murchie, and Ben Eldon, with whom our shared experiences, will certainly go down in the annals of life. And last but not least, to my dog, Maicoh, whose forever presence provided me the daily structure I so desperately needed to finish this damned document. V This dissertation is dedicated to the migrant families from East and North Africa, Syria, Palestine, and Iraq, who in search for better opportunities put their lives at risk for a chance at peace in a foreign land VI Table of Contents Lay Abstract ................................................................................................................... iii Abstract ........................................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................... v Dedication Page .............................................................................................................. vi Table of Contents .......................................................................................................... vii List of Figures .................................................................................................................. x List of Tables ................................................................................................................. xii List of Abbreviations ................................................................................................... xiii Declaration of Authorship ............................................................................................ xv 1.0 Chapter 1: Introduction ........................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Research Questions and Objectives ...................................................................... 2 1.3 Theoretical Orientation ......................................................................................... 3 1.4 Historical Background and Archaeological Context ............................................ 4 1.4.1 A Sea of Traders: Iron Age Southern Italy From The 8th – 6th century BCE ............................................................................ 4