ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the contribution of bioarchaeology to the reconstruction of adult Roman dietary patterns, through the study of specific pathological conditions, and stable isotope analysis. Bioarchaeology is the study of human skeletal remains contextualized within the available archaeological and/or relevant documentary evidence when dealing with historic populations. Roman diet was primarily cereal-based and cereals are low in iron; they also include phytates that inhibit the intestinal absorption of iron. The isotopic analysis of coastal imperial Roman population interred near the port of Velia in south Italy, revealed a diet high in cereals, relative consumption of animal and only minor consumption of marine protein. Understanding Roman dietary patterns is a complex task and, as evidenced, their reconstruction greatly benefits from multidisciplinary approaches drawing from a variety of data sets: documentary and archaeological evidence, paleopathology and chemical analysis. The researcher working with historic populations has the advantage of drawing evidence from the textual record.
