Excavations at the Roman Necropolis of Histria, Romania (First - Sixth Centuries C.E.) (15 min)

Presenters

Elijah Fleming, University of Minnesota; Katherine L. Reinberger, Center for Applied Isotope Studies, University of Georgia; and Adam Rabinowitz, University of Texas at Austin

Abstract

This paper presents the results of excavations in the Roman necropolis of the city of Histria, a multicultural economic center on the east coast of the Black Sea.

Histria was originally founded as a Milesian colony in the seventh century B.C.E., located advantageously for trade, and eventually incorporated into the Roman Empire in the first century C.E. The Histria Multiscalar Archaeology Project has been excavating the area outside the later city walls, called the Plateau, since 2018, with the goal of illuminating the tumultuous history of the area through a study of human-environment interaction.

Radiocarbon evidence suggests that the necropolis was reused over a significant span of time, first–sixth centuries C.E., during which time the silting of the Danube delta affected both the economic prosperity and political importance of the city.

The necropolis reflects these fluctuations, as the graves range in size and complexity with very few grave goods; the smallest consists of single-use infant burials with simple stone coverings, and the largest is a monumental stone-built tomb. The bioarchaeological evidence, such as the high prevalence of osteoarthritis and heavy tooth wear indicate that the inhabitants were likely laborers, perhaps of lower socioeconomic status.

Isotopic evidence has illuminated the diet of the inhabitants (δ13C-17.64 ±1.3 and δ15N 11.38 ±1.6) as comparable to other Roman sites, with the possible inclusion of millet. Further research has found evidence of mobility, including strontium isotope analysis suggesting one of the earliest individuals buried in the stone-built tomb was not born at Histria, and one of the later burials is a Sarmatian-style niche grave.

We conclude that the necropolis reflects the multicultural aspects of living in the margins of the Roman world, and that the inhabitants likely felt the economic struggles created by their changing environment.