Strontium and oxygen isotopes as indicators of Longobards mobility in Italy. An investigation at Povegliano Veronese

The arrival of the Longobards in Northern Italy in 568 CE marked a period of renewed political stability in the peninsula after the collapse of the Western Roman empire. the trajectory of the spread of Longobards in Italy across the Alps and into the South is known from many literary sources. However, their mobility and residence patterns at a population level remain to be fully understood. Here we present a multi-isotopic analysis (87Sr/86Sr and 18o/16O) of 39 humans and 14 animals buried at the Longobard necropolis of Povegliano Veronese (VR, Italy; 6th—8th century CE), to address mode and tempo of the spread of this population in the peninsula. the geographical location of povegliano Veronese plays a key role: the site lies along the Via Postumia, which was one of the main ancient Roman roads of Northern Italy, representing an important route in post-classical Italy. The integration of isotopic data with the archaeological evidence allowed us to determine the presence of individuals from at least three different regions of origin, building a diachronic map of the dynamics of mobility of this group in northern Italy

Mobility patterns from the Povegliano Veronese burial ground. Preliminary strontium isotope results

Archaeological data and written sources suggest that the Longobards were a community “on the move”. To support this hypothesis, we analysed strontium isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) to explore mobility patterns of 24 individuals buried in the Longobard graveyard at Povegliano Veronese (Verona; late 6th - early 8th century). This site, located on the Via Postumia, represents a possible arrival destination from Pannonia. Integration of material culture data with results of the biological assessment of the skeletal remains has revealed that 224 individuals were buried in just over a century and a half, covering several generations. For the Sr isotope analyses, soil samples together with human teeth and bone specimens were selected from burials of all periods of use of the cemetery. Soil collected from the burials was used to define the local range at the site, showing strontium values typical of Quaternary alluvial and moraine deposits. Cluster analysis of the tooth data shows three distinct groups corresponding to three different geochemical signatures. Around sixty percent of the individuals have Sr ratios close to that of Povegliano Veronese soil; these constitute the local group. Twenty-nine percent of the individuals have higher Sr ratios than those of Povegliano Veronese soils, which strongly suggests that they originated elsewhere; they are hence defined “allochthons”. Notably, the signatures of the allochthonous groups match values from the Lake Balaton region in Hungary. A small proportion of individuals (one male and one female) show the highest Sr ratios in the set: without being able to pinpoint a possible area of origin, we propose a generally wider European provenance for them. The pattern of mobility revealed by this work appears to confirm the high mobility of the first generation buried at Povegliano, in line with the hypothesis of migration from Pannonia

Povegliano Veronese - A Post-classical necropolis from the Northern Italy (VI-VIII centuries AD)

The Longobard necropolis of Povegliano Veronese, discovered in 1985, is located in the Veneto region of Northern Italy. It is located near the “Via Postumia”, one of the main ancient Roman roads of Northern Italy. The necropolis was excavated in two field seasons (1985-86 and 1992-93). As a result, 162 Longobard burials were recovered. Based on the archaeological evidence the necropolis was dated from the late VI century to the early VIII century AD. A critical defining cultural aspect to this necropolis comes from the Northern portion of the site, were a headless horse with two greyhounds were found. This specific form of animal offering is typically found in Longobard necropolises. At first, it was essential investigate the biological profile of the population, with the aim to understand the population mortality profile and paleodemographic data. Further, the residential mobility of the population is the focus of our research. Longobards were a population “on the move” and in a pilot study, through the application of strontium isotope analysis (87Sr/86Sr) on 25 individuals from the site, interesting data emerged. This research was fundamental to understand the complexity of mobility in post-classical studies, and it appears crucial to increase our understanding of historical sources. Finally, ethno-anthropological data were used to identify possible activitie carried out by the individuals to increase information about the archaeology of production in the Middle Ages, stimulating a methodology based on the dialogue between the archaeological and the biological investigatio

Strontium isotopes as indicators of Longobards mobility: preliminary investigation at Povegliano Veronese

The study of migrations provides crucial information for the archaeological research. In fact, there is a strong relation between the chemical composition of an individuals tissues and his/her mobility strategies: these can reflect the way individuals choose to reside and/or move during their life. The strontium isotope ratio (87Sr/86Sr) of skeletal remains is nowadays considered a reliable method to assess residential mobility and origin of past populations. Between 1984-1985 and 1992-1993 the skeletons of adults and subadults were excavated at the Longobard cemetery of Povegliano Veronese (Verona, Italy). Within a wider project on the cultural and biological dynamics of the Longobards in Italy, this work present a contribution to the study of migration of these populations in Italy, through the application of strontium isotope analysis (87Sr/86Sr). Sr ratio was measured in tooth enamel taken from 25 individuals from Povegliano Veronese, dating to the late 6 th–early 8th century AD. In order to interpret strontium isotope ratios analysed in the human skeletons, we begun to map the biologically-available strontium isotope signatures of Veneto region (northern Italy) by analysing soil distributed around this area. The mapping shows a marked difference in biologically-available 87Sr/86Sr values of soils. In Povegliano Veronese strontium isotope signature ranges between 0.7082 and 0.7089 with values that are unique to the area and compared to other parts of Veneto. The ratios obtained seem to plot in three different groups of which one shows values that are consistent with the geological background of the area of the necropolis wheares others are to be considered ‘non locals’ and might match other possible regions of provenience of the individuals. By integrating the strontium signatures with archaeological and anthropological data we speculate on the possible origin of the individuals buried at the site and suggest mobility patterns at Povegliano Veronese

Povegliano Veronese Strontium Isotopes as indicators of Lombards mobility: preliminary investigation at Povegliano Veronese (VR)

A strontium ratios analysis (87Sr/86Sr) was conducted to explore mobility and residence patterns of 25 individuals buried at the Lombard necropolis of Povegliano Veronese (VR, IT VI-VIII century AD). The chronological and geographical location of Povegliano Veronese plays a key role, as this site represents an important destination in post-classical Italy. Strontium isotope ratio (87Sr/86Sr ) of skeletal remains is considered a reliable method to assess residential mobility and origin of archaeological communities because of the strong relation between the chemical composition of bone/teeth and migration events

In search of a complex past Lombards in Italy: a population on the move in late antiquity

In facing the investigation of a migrant population as the Lombards, it is never simple nor intuitive to collect all available sources. The Lombards started their departure from Scoringa, a small island close to the coast of Germany. European burial contexts testify their path across the North of Europe to Hungary, the ancient Roman region of Pannonia. As reported in Historia Langobardorum by Paul the Deacon, in 568 AD this population crossed the Italian boundary to occupy its territories. From this moment, the interaction with the inhabitants and land-use began. Our analysis focuses on two Lombard necropolises: Povegliano Veronese and La Selvicciola, respectively from northeastern and central Italy and dated to a crucial period of post-classical era, namely between the 6th and the 8th AD. The contextualization of these two funerary areas is supported by an interdisciplinary approach. On the one side we consider the comparison between the archaeology of production and material culture with the anthropological data. On the other we define each skeletal sample as a biological archive that registers the biological and cultural biography of an individual and a population. In this perspective, the bioarchaeological investigation could examine levels of considerable complexity within our understanding of past societies. The isotopic analysis of human and animal samples investigates migration in relation to a population on the move from borders beyond Italy and along the peninsula. Non-metric traits of the skull provide useful information on possible family relations intra- and inter-necropolises. Finally, dental pathologies can help in interpreting the biocultural implications of dietary changes in a population facing complex cultural transformations