Paestum dietary habits during the Imperial period: archaeological records and stable isotope measurement

In historical contexts, analyses of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes can be useful to answer different question on dietary behavior and to crosscheck information, drawn from texts and classical archaeological investigations. In this study the Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) facility installed at the IRMS-SUN Laboratory of the Second University of Naples is presented. Moreover, results coming from application of stable isotope analyses to bone collagen extracted from human remains of the necropolis of "Porta Sirena" in Paestum will be discussed. Finally, a combined analyses of archaeological and historical record and stable isotope measurements permits to expand our knowledge on diet in Roman Paestum.</p