The analysis of teeth more than 2,500 years old suggests that dietary diversity, today associated with Italian culture, was already part of the life of the communities on the Italian peninsula in the Iron Age. The conclusion comes from a study published in the scientific journal PLOS One.
A team of Italian and Polish researchers analyzed 30 teeth belonging to 10 individuals who lived between the 7th and 6th centuries BCE, at the archaeological site of Pontecagnano, in southern Italy. The work revealed that dental plaque preserved traces of a surprisingly varied diet, comprised of cereals, legumes, large quantities of carbohydrates, and even fermented foods and beverages.
According to the authors, this dietary diversity may be related to an increase in contacts between local populations and other cultures of the Mediterranean during that period. “The teeth opened a unique window into the life of these Iron Age inhabitants,” says Roberto Germano, from Sapienza University of Rome, the study’s coordinator.
Beyond adult diet, the researchers analyzed the patterns of growth of dental tissue, which allowed reconstructing the early years of life of the studied individuals. Signs of episodes of stress were identified around the first and fourth years of life, phases considered critical in child development, where changes in diet and behavior can increase exposure to diseases.
The analysis of dental calculus also revealed starch granules, plant fibers, and yeast spores, providing direct evidence of regular consumption of fermented products. “These data offer a very concrete image of the diet and some daily activities of these communities,” explains Emanuela Cristiani, one of the researchers involved.
Although the number of individuals analyzed is small and does not allow generalizations about the entire population of the time, the study represents the first histological dataset obtained for the Pontecagnano Iron Age community. The authors argue that future investigations, with larger samples and additional techniques, such as isotopic analysis, could deepen knowledge about how these populations adapted to the environmental and social challenges of the past.
