A long way from home – diasporas in Romano-

British townsHella Eckardt,

Mary Lewis & Gundula Müldner

Carolyn Chenery & Stephany Leach

University of Reading

• How many foreigners lived in Romano-British towns?

• What are the sources of evidence for their presence?

• What levels of mobility and migration do we expect in the Roman Empire?

• How well integrated were incomers and locals?

To the spirits of the departed,

Regina, freedwoman and wife of Barates from Palmyra who is herself of Catuvellaunian descent

She lived for 30 years

What levels of mobility do we expect, especially in towns?

Noy 2000:

5% of

people living in the City of Rome during the

high Empire were incomers

Rowland, R.J. 1976. Foreigners in Roman Britain. Acta Archaeologica Academiae Scientiarium Hungaricae 28, 443-447.

Elsewhere in Britain

Gaul

Italy

Germany

Spain

Thrace

Pannonia

Noricum

Syria

Africa

Greece

Roman'

Dalmatia

Dacia

Raetia126 out of 2218 recorded inscriptions from Roman Britain mention migrants = 5% (after Rowlands 1976)

The uneven distribution of epigraphic evidence from Roman Britain

We hope to address the lived experience of diaspora communities, by combining archaeological and scientific techniques

Artefacts & Burial rite

Foodways & diet (Carbon & Nitrogen isotopes) Health (Osteology)

Osteological ancestry assessments

DIASPORA COMMUNITIES

Migration: Str & O isotopes

"Diaspora theory is about creating and maintaining identity in communities

dispersed among other peoples.

It is about the local and non-local and how, through processes of hybridity and

creolization, some groups of people can be both at the same time."

(I. Lilley, 2004: 287)

To the spirits of the departed,

Regina, freedwoman and wife of Barates from Palmyra who is herself of Catuvellaunian descent

She lived for 30 years

Note the inscription in Palmyrene script, which reads:

Regina, freedwoman of Barate(s), alas!

You Are What You Eat

• All body tissues including bone are synthesized from the molecular components of the food and drink consumed

• Isotopic "fingerprints" of food become incorporated in consumer bones

13C

18O

87Sr/86Sr15N

"Migration Isotopes": Oxygen 18O of precipitation varies between regions,

mainly according to– climate– weather– geography

Incorporated in humanskeleton via drinking water

www.waterisotopes.org

"Migration Isotopes": Strontium

• 87Sr/86Sr ratios in soils varyaccording to surface geology– type of bedrock– geological age of bedrock

Incorporated in humanskeleton via (locally grown)foods

© NIGL

2 year project

150 samples

Previous published migration isotope studies for Roman Britain: 24

Eboracum – Roman York

• provincial capital of Britannia Inferior• military, economic and administrative centre of the North • Septimius Severus and imperial court in York, 208-11 AD• Constantine the Great proclaimed emperor 306 AD

WarmerWarmerfurther West or South

more coastal

CoolerCoolerfurther East or North

more continental

WarmerWarmerfurther West or South

more coastal

CoolerCoolerfurther East or North

more continental

Too hot for the UK

WarmerWarmerfurther West or South

more coastal

CoolerCoolerfurther East or North

more continental

Too cold for the UK

Roman Winchester

Venta Belgarum

Clarke describes 16 graves dated to AD 350-410 as intrusive: 8 men, 4 adult women and 4 young women

‘Intrusive’ men

Evans, J., Stoodley, N., Chenery, C., 2006. A strontium and oxygen isotope assessment of a possible fourth century immigrant population in a Hampshire cemetery, southern England. Journal of Archaeological Science 33, 265-272.

40 samples from Lankhills + 18 from previous study

Clarke describes 16 graves dated to AD 350-410 as intrusive: 8 men, 4 adult women and 4 young women

‘Intrusive’ men

Pannonian Family, National Museum Budapest

Discrepancy between archaeological & scientific data….

2nd generation immigrant?

Intermarriage?

Impact of age, gender, status?

• How many foreigners lived in Romano-British towns?

• What are the sources of evidence for their presence?

• What levels of mobility and migration do we expect in the Roman Empire?

• How well integrated were incomers and locals?

“Local” Probably from elsewhere in Britain

Probable long-distance migrants

Total Sample

York 40 (59%) 13 (19%) 15 (22%) 68

Catterick 12 (46%) 11 (42%) 3 (12%) 26

Gloucester 10 (48%) 4 (19%) 7 (33%) 21

Lankhills 30 (52%) 8 (14%) 20 (34%) 58

Conclusions• Large numbers of individuals can be defined as

non-local isotopically • Not just men but also women migrating

• As expected, the relationship between burial rite and origin is complex

• The benefits of a multi-disciplinary approach

• Challenge stereotype of essentially homogenous Romano-British society through active out-reach

Outreach

Yorkshire Museum – 2010 The People of Roman York Exhibition

Aaron Watsonhttp://www.monumental.uk.com

Outreach:

Short stories and teaching packs with Caroline Lawrence

http://www.romanmysteries.com/indexflash.htm

Thank You!

Andrew Morrison and the Yorkshire Museum

York Archaeological Trust

The Natural History Museum, London