This study investigates human diet and mobility to understand the socio-economic organisation of a Late Roman community in Liguria, a transitional region between Italy and Gaul, during the 3rd–5th century CE. By combining archaeological, historical, osteological, and isotopic data with novel Bayesian modelling of multi-isotope data (collagen δ13C, δ15N, bioapatite 87Sr/86Sr) from human and animal skeletal remains, as well as modern plant samples, we provide new insights into this hitherto under-researched region. Our findings suggest the community followed a C3-based diet, heavily reliant on plant resources and carbohydrates, supplemented by animal protein, likely from omnivorous pigs. This characteristically Roman diet contrasts with ancient written sources that claimed Ligurians had a “barbarian” diet and lifestyle. We also identified significant sex-based dietary differences, with men consuming more animal-derived protein than women, reflecting traditional Graeco-Roman societal ideals. Although the overall dietary pattern aligns with Roman norms, there is no isotopic evidence of long-distance migration or consumption of significant amounts of imported food. This indicates that the community may have been more localist, prioritising locally available resources over long-distance imports, which is unexpected given the prevalent idea of a large-scale interconnected food network within the Roman Empire.Dental pathologies as dietary indicators Isotopic approaches to diet and mobility Material: the “Necropoli Del Sottopasso” Results Osteology and archaeological context Dental pathologies Caries Calculus Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes Faunal isotope results Human stable isotope results ReSources model Strontium isotopes Discussion Literary descriptions and dietary realities Aquatic resources in the diet Diet and connectedness Dietary differences between sexes A glimpse into the troubled 5th century CE? Conclusions Methods Osteological Analysis Isotope analysis Statistical analysi
