University of South Florida Scholar Commons Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate School April 2019 Exploring Variations in Diet and Migration from Late Antiquity to the Early Medieval Period in the Veneto, Italy: A Biochemical Analysis Ashley B. Maxwell University of South Florida, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd Part of the Biological and Chemical Physics Commons Scholar Commons Citation Maxwell, Ashley B., "Exploring Variations in Diet and Migration from Late Antiquity to the Early Medieval Period in the Veneto, Italy: A Biochemical Analysis" (2019). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/7854 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Exploring Variations in Diet and Migration from Late Antiquity to the Early Medieval Period in the Veneto, Italy: A Biochemical Analysis by Ashley B. Maxwell A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Anthropology College of Arts and Sciences University of South Florida Major Professor: Robert H. Tykot, Ph.D. Diane Wallman, Ph.D. Jonathan Bethard, Ph.D. Andrea Vianello, Ph.D. Michael Decker, Ph.D. Kristina Killgrove, Ph.D. Date of Approval: March 19, 2019 Keywords: Stable isotope analysis, paleodiet, bioarchaeology, mobility Copyright © 2019 Ashley Maxwell DEDICATION To Tiger “Kitty” Maxwell and Sansa Maxwell. My comfort through the storm. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This dissertation would not have been possible without the help, guidance, and support of many people. First, I would like to thank my major advisor, Dr. Robert Tykot, for agreeing to take me as his graduate student when I was undergoing a period of transition. With his guidance, I was introduced to the world of archaeological science and have acquired a valuable skillset. I would also like to thank my committee members Dr. Andrea Vianello, Dr. Diane Wallman, Dr. Michael Decker, Dr. Jonathan Bethard, and Dr. Kristina Killgrove. Dr. Vianello obtained permission for me to study the skeletal assemblages from the Veneto, and accompanied me to Italy to aid in my data collection. His extensive knowledge on the region was invaluable. I would like to thank Dr. Wallman not only for identifying the faunal remains used in this study, but for her continuous positive encouragement and constructive feedback. I am also very grateful to Dr. Decker, who was always willing to meet with me when I needed advice on grants, job applications, and life in general. I hope to model his genuine kindness and approachability. Dr. Bethard showed me what self-confidence is, and while I am still working on it, I envy his uncanny ability to dominate a room. Outside of my committee members, there are a few additional people at USF that I would like to thank. First, I would like to thank Dr. Sarah Taylor. Dr. Taylor never doubted me, or my abilities, and made sure that I knew it every time I saw her. It meant more to me than she could ever know. I would also like to thank Erin Jensen. Erin not only helped me through the tedious grant process, but had my back through some trying times. I would especially like to thank certain family and friends. I would like to start with my mom, for supporting my higher education, and my adventures abroad. I also want to thank my brother, who related to my experiences. I would like to thank my dad, for his British humor, and uncanny ability to make me feel like everything would always be ok. Thank you to my sister Rachel, for being my role model growing up, for paving the way for me to feel like I could achieve this goal, and for always picking up the phone when I needed to talk. I would like to thank my friend Meredith Tise-Boyer, who has been with me since the beginning of this journey seven years ago. Thank you for your help in the lab, and your continued friendship and support. I would also like to thank Rosie Bongiovanni for her initial participation on my committee during my qualifying exams, and for her continued frienship thereafter. I would also like to thank my M.A. advisor Dr. Ann Ross, who supported me through trying times and continues to be my mentor and confidant. I would like to thank a special friend, Amanda “Bucky” Roe, who genuinely meant it when she told me, “I’m with you till the end of the line.” I would like to thank Ryan Harke. Ryan never gave up on me, even when I wanted to give up on myself. He never wavered in his support of me, and always saw the light at the end of the tunnel. I would like to thank the Soprintendenza Archeologia del Veneto, specifically Dr. Maria Cristina Vallicelli, Dr. Brunella Bruno, Dr. Cinzia Rossignoli, and Dr. Marisa Rigoni. In addition, I would like to thank the Rust Family Foundation for funding my dissertation research. TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. vi List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ xi Abstract ........................................................................................................................................ xvi Chapter 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................................1 1.1 Background ....................................................................................................................1 1.2 Research Orientation and Questions .............................................................................5 1.3 Methods..........................................................................................................................7 1.4 Organization of Chapters ...............................................................................................9 1.5 Intellectual merits.........................................................................................................12 1.6 Broader Impacts ...........................................................................................................12 Chapter 2: Research Orientation ....................................................................................................14 2.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................14 2.2 Migration......................................................................................................................14 2.2.1 History of Migration Theory in Europe ........................................................14 2.2.1.1 Interpretations of Migration in Late Antiquity ..............................17 2.2.2 Approaches to Studying Migration in Late Antiquity ..................................19 2.2.3 Applying a Migration Framework to the Langobard Migration ...................22 2.2.4 Migration Conclusion ...................................................................................25 2.3 Foodways in Archaeology ...........................................................................................25 2.3.1 Political Economy .........................................................................................26 2.3.2 Political Economy as an Analytical Tool......................................................27 2.4 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................30 Chapter 3: Culture and Chronology ...............................................................................................31 3.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................31 3.2 The Veneto ...................................................................................................................32 3.3 Roman Period (1st century BC to 3rd century AD) .......................................................34 3.3.1 The Romans ..................................................................................................34 3.3.2 The Langobards ............................................................................................36 3.4 Late Antiquity (3-5th century AD) ...............................................................................38 3.4.1 Conflicts ........................................................................................................38 3.4.2 Economic Decline .........................................................................................41 3.5 Early Medieval Period (6-8th centuries AD) ................................................................44 3.5.1 Langobard Migration into Italy .....................................................................44 3.5.2 Roman and Langobard Society in Italy ........................................................49 i 3.5.3 Economic Changes........................................................................................53 3.6 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................56 Chapter 4: Foodways .....................................................................................................................57