Introducing Isotòpia: A stable isotope database for Classical Antiquity

Area of Science:

• Bioarchaeology
• Isotope analysis
• Classical Antiquity studies

Background:

• Stable isotope analysis provides insights into past human diets, mobility, and environments.
• Classical Antiquity (800 BCE - 500 CE) is a period rich in archaeological human, animal, and plant remains.
• Existing isotopic data is often fragmented and difficult to access for comprehensive meta-analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a centralized, open-access database of stable isotope measurements from Classical Antiquity.
• To facilitate meta-analytical research on past human activities, diets, mobility, and paleoenvironments.
• To identify and highlight existing data gaps in the field of isotopic classical archaeology.

Main Methods:

• Compilation of over 36,000 stable isotope measurements (δ13C, δ15N, δ18O, δ34S, 87Sr/86Sr, Pb isotopes) from published and unpublished sources.
• Inclusion of data from human, animal, and plant bioarchaeological remains across various European regions, with a focus on the Mediterranean.
• Integration of associated historical, archaeological, biological, and environmental variables for each data point.

Main Results:

• The Isotòpia database offers a comprehensive resource for over 36,000 isotopic measurements.
• Data covers human, animal, and plant remains from Classical Antiquity, primarily from Europe and the Mediterranean.
• Key data gaps were identified, including underrepresentation of plant and animal isotopes, limited studies on spatial mobility, and uneven geographical research distribution.

Conclusions:

• Isotòpia serves as a valuable resource for advancing research in bioarchaeology and paleoenvironmental studies.
• Addressing the identified data gaps is crucial for maximizing the potential of isotopic data in understanding past societies.
• Future research should focus on expanding isotopic analyses for plants and animals and investigating spatial mobility patterns.