Anthropological, Palaeopathological, and Stable Isotope Analyses of the Early Medieval Population of Corte Romana (Cividale, NE Italy) During the Period of Langobard Rule (6th–7th centuries ad)

This study examines the Early Medieval local population of Corte Romana (Cividale del Friuli, NE Italy) during the period of Langobard rule of the territory (6th–7th centuries ad). We conducted anthropological and palaeopathological analyses of 54 individuals from Corte Romana, including 38 subadults and 16 adults. Stable isotope analyses (δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S) were performed on 52 of these individuals to investigate their dietary patterns and mobility. Palaeopathological data revealed the presence of various health stressors, particularly among subadults, reflecting challenging living conditions and nutritional deficiencies. Stable isotope analysis indicated a consistent consumption of C4 plants, aligning with historical sources, and highlighted a remarkable disparity in the consumption of protein-rich foods between the adult and subadult individuals (especially those between 5 and 9 years of age). When compared to previously published data for Langobard individuals from northern Italy, this dietary disparity becomes more evident, especially for the subadults—a clear indication of sociocultural inequality in terms of access to resources between the existing local subadult population and the new Langobard invaders. This study is particularly significant as previous research in northern Italy during this period has predominantly focused on the Langobards, with little attention paid to the local populations coexisting with them. Our findings therefore contribute to a broader understanding of the dietary habits and social dynamics of the local Roman population in Italy in the Early Middle Ages.