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7324995 
Meetings & Symposia 
Title of session: 3B-Isotopic studies in roman archaeology: Patterns of commonality and eccentricities title: Millet and fish? Exploring individuality and singular dietary choices in Roman Greece 
Michael, DE; Dotsika, E 
2018 
No 
English 
Until recently most isotopic studies conducted on skeletal material from Greece refer either to prehistoric times or to the Byzantine period. In particular, isotopic studies regarding dietary reconstruction during the Roman times in Greece are almost absent, with the exception of one study by Anna Lagia, published in 2015, referring to Roman Athens. Therefore, even though Roman culture was influenced by the ancient Greek civilization, subsistence strategies of past societies in Roman Greece remain rather unexplored. The present study offers isotopic data for two sites in Greek territory during the Roman period, one deriving from Northern Greece (Edessa; Greek Macedonia, 2 nd-4 th c. AD) and the other from Southern Greece (Corinth, Peloponnese, 1 st-4 th c. AD). The vast majority of the isotopic studies published for Greek populations show a C 3 terrestrial diet. In fact, this is also the case for the aforementioned Roman sample in Athens. However, Edessa's results (both collagen and apatite ones) point out a significant presence of C 4 items, such as millet (N=14, δ 13 C coll :-17.7 ± 1.09 ‰; δ 15 N: 9.9 ± 0.6 ‰), and to a lesser extent possible freshwater intake, at least for 3 individuals (based on their apatite-collagen spacing). In addition, there is a singular case of a female individual presenting a C 3 terrestrial based diet, possibly reflecting a different geographical origin. On the other hand, Corinth's first results point out a possible high marine intake at least for two singular cases, who display elevated nitrogen values. Even though Corinth's investigation has not been completed yet, a significant marine consumption, at least for a portion of the skeletal sample under study, would be in agreement with the archaeological finding of a Roman fish market revealed in Corinth. Results will be further discussed in the upcoming conference, in relation to archaeological, ethnographical and anthropological information. 
Roman Archaeology Conference, Edinburg, April 2018 
Edinburgh, Scotland 
April 12 - 14, 2018