Vana Kalenderian

VANA KALENDERIAN, then a graduate student at University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands, was awarded funding in October 2016 to aid research on “’Resurrecting’ Berytus: Osteoarchaeological Analysis & an Evaluation of Mortuary Practices & Cultural Exchange (1st Century BC – 4th Century AD),” supervised by Dr. de Jong. The research phase funded by the Wenner-Gren Foundation took place between February 1 and June 30, 2017. The goal was to undertake radiocarbon dating and isotope analysis on human remains from the Roman colony of Berytus in the Near East. The main objective through this analysis is to identify differences in provenance among the population, which coupled with the osteological and the burial data will help assess the consequences of migration on local society and culture. Radiocarbon analysis has helped refine the archaeological dating, which enables more accurate chronological assessments of the funerary practices. The stable isotope analysis of carbon and nitrogen is providing the very first set of data on dietary practices in Roman Beirut. Comparisons between the childhood and adulthood values of individuals will also shed light on potential dietary shifts that may be linked to mobility. Finally, the strontium, oxygen and lead isotope signatures will help identify differences in origin. Local baseline values are being established and the use of multiple isotope systems is improving the differentiation between locals and non-locals. The anticipated results of the combined isotope analyses will shed light on multiple aspects of life in Roman Beirut which will enable a better understanding of the changes accompanying the colonization of the city.