Diet and Health in Middle Bronze Age Italy: a metaproteomic analysis of human dental calculus in two case-studies

Silvia Soncin, Jessica Hendy, Camilla Speller, Giorgio Manzi, Mary Anne Tafuri
Abstract:
Shotgun metaproteomics applied to dental calculus is a tool that is providing unprecedented insights in ancient diet and health reconstruction. We apply a proteomic analysis of dental calculus deposits from individuals of two contemporaneous populations, Bovolone (Verona) and Sant’Abbondio (Pompeii), in order to provide more insight into the diet and health of individuals in middle Bronze Age Italy. Here we find that differences in protein preservation among individuals make comparing the two populations challenging. Nevertheless, we detect a number of dietary proteins, including wheats and eggs, which gains insight into food consumption practices during this period of social and economic change.
Download:
IMEKO-TC4-ARCHAEO-2016-03.pdf
DOI:
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Event details
IMEKO TC:
TC4
Event name:
MetroArchaeo 2016
Title:

International Conference on Metrology for Archaeology and Cultural heritage (TC4)

Place:
Torino, ITALY
Time:
19 October 2016 - 21 October 2016