title: Water-related occupations and diet in two Roman coastal communities (Italy, first to third century AD): correlation between stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values and auricular exostosis prevalence.
abstract: The reconstruction of dietary patterns in the two Roman imperial age coastal communities of Portus and Velia (I-III AD) by means of stable isotope analysis of bone remains has exposed a certain degree of heterogeneity between and within the two samples. Results do not correlate with any discernible mortuary practices at either site, which might have pointed to differential social status. The present study tests the hypothesis of a possible connection between dietary habits and occupational activities in the two communities. Among skeletal markers of occupation, external auricular exostosis (EAE) has proved to be very informative. Clinical and retrospective epidemiological surveys have revealed a strong positive correlation between EAE development and habitual exposure to cold water. In this study, we show that there is a high rate of occurrence of EAE among adult males in both skeletal samples (21.1% in Portus and 35.3% in Velia). Further, there is a statistically significant higher prevalence of EAE among those individuals at Velia with very high nitrogen isotopic values. This points to fishing (coastal, low-water fishing) as the sea-related occupation most responsible for the onset of the ear pathology. For Portus, where the consumption of foods from sea and river seems to be more widespread through the population, and where the scenario of seaport and fluvial activities was much more complex than in Velia, a close correlation between EAE and fish consumption by fishermen is less easy to establish.
authors.affiliation: St Catherine's College, The University of Western Australia, Nedland, WA 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Crowe
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sperduti
authors.forename: Tamsin C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: O'Connell
authors.forename: Oliver E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: Karola
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kirsanow
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Germoni
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Macchiarelli
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Garnsey
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bondioli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D055699:Cemeteries; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history* / Q000473:pathology; D004431:Ear, External / Q000473:pathology*; D005096:Exostoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history* / Q000473:pathology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history* / Q000473:pathology; D009790:Occupations; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D015995:Prevalence; D018644:Roman World
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes