Between Raetia Secunda and the dutchy of Bavaria: Exploring patterns of human movement and diet

Journal article

The transition from Roman times to the Middle Ages in Europe is characterized by profound changes in all spheres of life, related to the decline of the Western Roman Empire and the emergence of medieval kingdoms. It is often assumed that the migration of various Germanic gentes played an important role in this transition. However, little is known about the local history of the Roman frontier province of Raetia secunda (Raetia II) in present-day southern Bavaria due to the lack of historical sources, so it can be referred to as a "Dark Age." Therefore, the anthropological study of human skeletal remains from this period is of particular importance to gain more insight into historical events and developments. The stable isotope analyses of human bones and teeth carried out in this thesis investigate the different origins, diets, and weaning practices of the population living in Raetia II between Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages. The results suggest that a large number of migrants came to Raetia II in the second half of the 5th century. The emerging differences in mobility between men and women, as well as the available evidence for multiple distinct regions of origin, suggest that immigration and mobility in South Bavaria after the fall of the Roman Empire were extremely complex. In particular, it has been noted that the tracked consumption of food sources atypical of the Bavarian region, such as marine resources and millet, may indicate a non-local origin of individuals. It is implied that the Bavarian population subsisted on a mixture of different types of C3 plants and terrestrial animals. There is separate evidence that economic practices changed during the Early Middle Ages, but further analysis is needed to confirm this. The observed breastfeeding and weaning practices vary considerably, even within local communities. Most individuals are weaned by the time they reach the age of three. However, in some migrants, probably from a population with a different cultural background and lifestyle, different weaning practices with longer breastfeeding periods are observed. Furthermore, analysis of physiological stress during and after breastfeeding shows that childhood stress increases when there is little or no breastfeeding. Overall, the results of this study have contributed to enlightening the "Dark Ages" in South Bavaria

Authors: Velte, M; Czermak, A; Grigat, A; Haas-Gebhard, B; Gairhos, A

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Public Library of Science
• Journal: PLoS ONE
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 4
• Pages: e0283243-e0283243
• Publication date: 2023-04-05
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283243
• EISSN: 1932-6203
• ISSN: 1932-6203
• Language: English
• Keywords: Ethnology; Geography; Human migration; Anthropology; Ancient history; History; Population; Archaeology; Tribe; Demography; Mass migration; Art; Immigration; Middle Ages; Empire; Sociology; Period (music)