High-resolution isotopic data link settlement complexification to infant diets within the Roman Empire

A significant link between settlement complexity and infant breastfeeding duration has been identified within the Roman Empire, with urban centers like Pompeii and Thessaloniki showing adherence to medical guidelines of weaning infants by age two. This finding emerges from high-resolution Bayesian-modeled stable isotope measurements from incremental dentine of permanent first molars, revealing inter-site variability in breastfeeding durations ranging from 1.5 years to approximately 5 years. The study compiled isotopic data from multiple Roman sites, including new analyses from Pompeii and Ostia Via del Mare (AVM), suggesting that adherence to medical guidelines, support infrastructures, or financial strategies may have influenced these practices.

Cocozza, C., Harris, A. J. T., Formichella, G., Pedrucci, G., Rossi, P. F., D’Alessio, A., Amoretti, V., Zuchtriegel, G., O’Reilly, M., Mantile, N., Panella, S., Tafuri, M. A., Altieri, S., di Cicco, M. R., Fernandes, R., & Lubritto, C. (2024). High-resolution isotopic data link settlement complexification to infant diets within the Roman Empire. PNAS Nexus, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae566