Bioarchaeological Perspectives on Late Antiquity in Dalmatia: Paleogenetic, Dietary, and Population Studies of the Hvar - Radošević burial site

Abstract

AbstractLate Antiquity Dalmatia was a time and place of political unrest in the Roman Empire that influenced the lives of the people living in that region. The Late Antique burial site of Hvar – Radošević, spanning the 3rdto 5thcenturies, is located on the Croatian Dalmatian island of Hvar. Given the time frame and its location on a busy marine trade route, study of this burial site offers us a glimpse into the lives of the Late Antique population living on this island. It comprises 33 individuals, with 17 buried within a confined grave tomb, and the remaining individuals buried in separate locations in the tomb’s proximity. Our objective was to provide new perspectives on the lives of people on the island during those times by studying ancestry, population structure, possible differences within the buried population, dietary habits, and general health.Analysis of the ancestral origins of the individuals buried at Hvar – Radošević revealed a diverse population reflective of the era’s genetic variability. The identification of genetic outliers suggests affiliations with distinct regions of the Roman Empire, possibly linked to trade routes associated with the Late Antique port in ancient Hvar. Stable isotope ratio analysis (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) indicated a diet mainly consisting of C3plants, with minimal consumption of marine foods. High childhood mortality rates, physiological stress markers, and dental diseases suggest a low quality of life in the population. Assessment of kinship and dietary patterns revealed no discernible distinctions between individuals buried within the tomb and those buried outside, indicative of an absence of differential burial practices based on social status and familial ties.