High status diet and health in Medieval Lisbon: a combined isotopic and osteological analysis of the Islamic population from S\xe3o Jorge Castle, Portugal

Alice Toso,Rodrigo Banha Da Silva,Michelle Alexander,Susana J Garcia,Sara Gaspar

doi:10.1007/s12520-019-00822-7

Abstract

This paper presents the first bioarchaeological study of Islamic diet and lifeways in medieval Portugal. Stable isotopes of δ13C and δ15N and osteological and paleopathological analyses are combined to explore the diet and health status of 27 humans buried within São Jorge Castle, Lisbon (eleventh to twelfth century), interpreted as a high status population. Human isotopic data are considered alongside an animal baseline comprised of 30 specimens sampled from nearby Praça da Figueira, including the main domesticates and fish. Isotopic data indicate an age- and sex-related difference in diet among the population, suggesting a difference in food access between females and children compared to males. Palaeopathological analysis indicates a low prevalence of non-specific stress indicators such as Harris lines (HL), linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) and cribra orbitalia (CO) in this population in comparison to other medieval populations. LEH is only present in adults. These results suggest the presence of socio-cultural patterning relating to the organisation of the Islamic family, where women and men occupied different places in the household and society. This paper demonstrates the utility of a combined osteological and isotopic approach to understand the lifeways of Islamic populations in Medieval Iberia, as well as illuminates the lifeways of understudied segments of the population.

Highlights

This study applies a combination of bioarchaeological techniques to explore a human skeletal assemblage from São Jorge Castle, Lisbon, dating to the time of Islamic rule
This paper demonstrates the potential of a combined bioarchaeological approach to understand medieval lifeways, and to shed light onto specific segments of the society that were traditionally understudied or misrepresented in the historical sources
The anatomical preservation index (API) and the bone representation index (BRI) were calculated for all individuals, following Dutour (1989) and Garcia (2005/2006), in order to assess if there were differences in preservation regarding sex and age, which could bias the demographic profile of the sample

Summary

Introduction

This study applies a combination of bioarchaeological techniques to explore a human skeletal assemblage from São Jorge Castle, Lisbon, dating to the time of Islamic rule (eighth to thirteenth century). The unusual location of these interments, within the Castle itself, suggests these individuals might have had a privileged treatment at death and belonged to an elevated social status, with possible links to the ruling Islamic family. The archaeological excavation and associated finds provide a chronology for the use of this site between the tenth and eleventh century, at the height of Islamic rule in Lisbon. This assemblage provides a unique opportunity to explore the dietary habits and overall health status of a specific group of individuals within Lisbon’s Medieval Muslim community

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