About isotopes, remains, and Classical Antiquity: identifying data gaps in mediterranean bioarchaeological research using the Isotòpia database

Our contribution aims to review potential data gaps in isotopic research for Classical Archaeology through the creation of Isotópia, a database of stable isotope measurements for antiquity. Over the centuries, the legacy of the Greek and Roman civilisations has been studied by generations of antiquaries and historians. Their primary focus was the elite portion of these societies, with research mainly involving historical reconstruction of the gestae of given politicians and the assessment of visible art and monumental remains. In recent decades, a more anthropology-based approach has offered new angles of investigation, such as the application of stable isotope analysis to gain information on subsistence practices and mobility of ‚illiterate‘ society, plus novel environmental perspectives. Large volumes of isotopic data can provide a different research overview at different scales and resolutions. When combined with multidisciplinary sources of evidence (e.g. written documents, archaeological record, etc.), this approach has proven to be highly effective. Furthermore, the collection of isotopic data across a large spatio-temporal span can be used for a meta-analysis of research gaps. Isotópia highlighted where additional isotopic research in Classical archaeology is needed. It was found that there is a striking disparity in the number of faunal and plant specimens compared to human individuals. This review also revealed a main research focus on 5th Century BCE Greece and in Italy and Britain for the Roman imperial period, with isotopic data for other regions such as Gallia, Pannonia, Dacia, North Africa, and Asia Minor being scarce. This is likely due to a combination of current political circumstances and a disproportion of funding interests for certain locations and periods.