I am a medieval archaeologist and human osteoarchaeologist specialised on the study of diet and mobility of past populations through isotope analyses. I am primarily interested on early medieval societies from southern Europe, but I also enjoy working on later medieval contexts, as well as Roman and Modern populations. My main research questions revolve around agrarian systems and social practices, including strategies of distinction, social exclusion and personal identities. Currently I am a postdoctoral researcher working between BioArCh Department of Archaeology of the University of York and the Research Group in Heritage and Cultural Landscapes of the University of the Basque Country. My research project, titled "Between the countryside and the city: diet and social practices of rural and urban early medieval communities from early medieval Iberia" and funded by the Government of the Basque Country, is aimed at comparing food supply and consumption patterns between urban and rural populations from Iberia dated to between 5th and 9th centuries CE in order to characterise and confront agrarian practices and social organisation between contemporary contexts through carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios on human and fauna bone collagen.
So-called ‘forgotten’ or ‘orphan’ crops are an important component of strategies aimed at preserv... more So-called ‘forgotten’ or ‘orphan’ crops are an important component of strategies aimed at preserving and promoting biodiversity. Knowledge of historical cultivation, usage, and geographic and evolutionary trajectories of plants, that is, crop history research, is important for the long-term success of such efforts. However, research biases in the crops chosen for study may present hurdles. This review attempts to systematically identify patterns in crop species representativeness within archaeology-based crop history research. A meta-analysis and synthesis of archaeobotanical evidence (and lack thereof) is presented for 268 species known to have been cultivated for food prior to 1492 CE from the Mediterranean region to South Asia. We identified 39 genera with known crop plants in this geographical and historical context that are currently absent from its archaeobotanical record, constituting ‘orphan’ crops of archaeobotany. In addition, a worldwide synthesis of crop species studied using geometric morphometric, archaeogenetic and stable isotope analyses of archaeological plant remains is presented, and biases in the species represented in these disciplines are discussed. Both disciplinary methodological biases and economic agenda-based biases affecting species representativeness in crop history research are apparent. This study also highlights the limited geographic diffusion of most crops and the potential for deeper historical perspectives on how crops become marginalized and ‘forgotten’.
Arqueología de las sociedades locales en la Alta Edad Media. San Julián de Aistra y las residencias de las élites rurales, 2023
En el yacimiento arqueológico de Aistra se excavaron tres espacios de enterramiento medievales qu... more En el yacimiento arqueológico de Aistra se excavaron tres espacios de enterramiento medievales que permiten seguir la evolución de las prácticas funerarias a lo largo de prácticamente toda la secuencia de ocupación del asentamiento. En primer lugar, se halló una necrópolis compuesta por 52 tumbas en fosa simple, de lajas, de bloques y de muretes, que se usó principalmente durante el periodo 2 (s. VIII-principios s. X), pero que probablemente tuvo continuidad hasta el periodo 4 (ss. XII-XIII). En segundo lugar, se identificaron seis enterramientos dispersos de individuos perinatales posiblemente asociados a contextos domésticos. Este ritual funerario diferenciado reservado a los individuos que morían durante los primeros meses de vida se observó en contextos de los periodos 1 y 2 (s. VI-principios s. X) y convivió con la necrópolis altomedieval. En tercer lugar, se caracterizó el cementerio que se extendía alrededor de la iglesia de San Julián y Santa Basilisa, que habría estado en uso desde la construcción del templo en el periodo 3 (ss. X-XI) hasta finales del periodo 4 (ss. XII-XIII). En total se descubrieron 39 tumbas asociadas a la iglesia, que se extendían hasta 25 m al este y al sur del templo. El análisis comparado de estos tres conjuntos funerarios revela el uso simultáneo de varios espacios por parte de la misma comunidad y pone de manifiesto la complejidad de los rituales funerarios durante la Edad Media.
Arqueología de las sociedades locales en la Alta Edad Media. San Julián de Aistra y las residencias de las élites rurales, 2023
El propósito de este capítulo es el de presentar, en modo detallado, la descripción de la secuenc... more El propósito de este capítulo es el de presentar, en modo detallado, la descripción de la secuencia estratigráfica que ha sido identificada en las excavaciones realizadas en las excavaciones del altozano de San Julián de Aistra. En la exposición se explican los procesos seguidos para construir esta secuencia ocupacional y establecer las cronologías relativas y absolutas, prestando una atención particular a los procesos de formación de la estratigrafía arqueológica. En el capítulo 9 se incluye una lista detallada de los períodos, los grupos de actividad, las actividades y las unidades estratigráficas.
Agrarian archaeology in north-western Iberia. Local societies: the off-site record, 2023
The objective of this paper is to present the results of a multiproxy archaeological project aime... more The objective of this paper is to present the results of a multiproxy archaeological project aimed at studying historical agricultural practices in the North of the Iberian Peninsula. Through an intensive research strategy in a microregion, such as the Alava plain, the project is intended to evaluate ‘offsite’ records allowing to define verifiable trends in terms of transformation of agricultural practices and rural societies over time. For this reason, there have been considered the results of intensive surveys, intensive excavations of some deserted sites, biochemical analyses of charred seeds, human and fauna remains, some written and oral sources, ethnographic information, and the study of terraced agricultural spaces.
The integrated analysis of a diversity of records has allowed to characterize the main features of agricultural practices and their transformations between the Roman period and nowadays, comparing the trends observed in ‘off-site’ records and other evidence. Consequently, it is concluded that this record is a complex artifact, conditioned by a diversity of variables that must be defined and understood in their chronological and spatial context, avoiding both possibilistic and uncritically skeptical interpretations.
Dental calculus preserves oral microbes, enabling comparative studies of the oral microbiome and ... more Dental calculus preserves oral microbes, enabling comparative studies of the oral microbiome and health through time. However, small sample sizes and limited dental health metadata have hindered health-focused investigations to date. Here, we investigate the relationship between tobacco pipe smoking and dental calculus microbiomes. Dental calculus from 75 individuals from the 19th century Middenbeemster skeletal collection (Netherlands) were analyzed by metagenomics. Demographic and dental health parameters were systematically recorded, including the presence/number of pipe notches. Comparative data sets from European populations before and after the introduction of tobacco were also analyzed. Calculus species profiles were compared with oral pathology to examine associations between microbiome community, smoking behavior, and oral health status. The Middenbeemster individuals exhibited relatively poor oral health, with a high prevalence of periodontal disease, caries, heavy calculus deposits, and antemortem tooth loss. No associations between pipe notches and dental pathologies, or microbial species composition, were found. Calculus samples before and after the introduction of tobacco showed highly similar species profiles. Observed interindividual microbiome differences were consistent with previously described variation in human populations from the Upper Paleolithic to the present. Dental calculus may not preserve microbial indicators of health and disease status as distinctly as dental plaque.
This paper presents the results of carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses on 50 charred seed... more This paper presents the results of carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses on 50 charred seed samples from the medieval villages of Zornoztegi and Aistra, dated to between fourth and fourteenth centuries CE. The assemblage was mainly formed by Triticum aestivum/durum, although some Hordeum vulgare, Avena and Vicia ervilia samples were also included. Despite the social and political differences between the sites, no big contrasts were found between them. According to Δ13C values, watering was predominantly low to moderate. There were statistically significant differences in the distribution of carbon stable isotope ratios of wheats between Zornoztegi and Aistra, as moderately and well watered grains were more common in the former. Barley samples were consistently in the range of poorly watered grains, while bitter vetch were extremely variable. Nitrogen isotope ratios were very homogeneous across taxa and between sites, and they pointed at the predominance of low manuring regimes, with only a few samples within the range of medium manured crops. No significant chronological changes in any of the indicators were found throughout the Middle Ages.
El Monasterio de Burtzeña fue fundado en 1432 y estuvo activo durante más de 400 años. Durante es... more El Monasterio de Burtzeña fue fundado en 1432 y estuvo activo durante más de 400 años. Durante esos años la economía y el poder que ostentó fue variable, hasta que en 1836, durante la primera guerra Carlista fue destruido. Cabe destacar la construcción de un templo durante el siglo XV, junto al monasterio, en el interior del cual, hemos documentado 50 sepulturas.
Se ha estudiado el material antropológico recuperado de veintidós de las cincuenta sepulturas exc... more Se ha estudiado el material antropológico recuperado de veintidós de las cincuenta sepulturas excavadas en el convento de los mercedarios de Burtzeña. Gracias al análisis conjunto de los individuos en conexión anatómica y los restos esqueléticos en posición secundaria, se ha identificado un número mínimo de 193 individuos. La población presenta el perfil demográfico característico de las sociedades estables preindustriales, con una elevada mortalidad infantil y una clara prevalencia de mujeres, aunque se ha identificado una capilla diferenciada en la que predominan los individuos masculinos, probablemente los propios monjes mercedarios. El estado de salud oral de la población era deficiente debido a las numerosas pérdidas ante mortem y a los abundantes depósitos de cálculo dental. Se han identificado varios casos de patologías metabólicas, traumáticas y congénitas, mientras que la prevalencia de osteoartritis en la población es anecdótica.
Zandra Fagernäs, Maite I. García Collado, Jessica Hendy, Courtney A. Hofman, Camilla Speller, Ir... more Zandra Fagernäs, Maite I. García Collado, Jessica Hendy, Courtney A. Hofman, Camilla Speller, Irina Velsko, Christina Warinner. 2020. A unified protocol for simultaneous extraction of DNA and proteins from archaeological dental calculus. Journal of Archaeological Science 118: 105135 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2020.105135)
Archaeological materials are a finite resource, and efforts should be made to minimize destructive analyses. This can be achieved by using protocols combining extraction of several types of biomolecules or microparticles, which decreases the material needed for analyses while maximizing the information yield. Archaeological dental calculus is a source of several different types of biomolecules, as well as microfossils, and can tell us about the human host, microbiome, diet, and even occupational activities. Here, we present a unified protocol allowing for simultaneous extraction of DNA and proteins from a single sample of archaeological dental calculus. We evaluate the protocol on dental calculus from six individuals from a range of time periods and estimated preservation states, and compare it against previously published DNA-only and protein-only protocols. We find that most aspects of downstream analyses are unaltered by the unified protocol, although minor shifts in the recovered proteome can be detected, such as a slight loss of hydrophilic proteins. Total protein recovery depends on both the amount of starting material and choice of extraction protocol, whereas total DNA recovery is significantly reduced using the unified protocol (mean 43%). Nevertheless, total DNA recovery from dental calculus is generally very high, and we found no differences in DNA fragment characteristics or taxonomic profile between the protocols. In conclusion, the unified protocol allows for simultaneous extraction of two complementary lines of biomolecular evidence from archaeological dental calculus without compromising downstream results, thereby minimizing the need for destructive analysis of this finite resource.
In J.A. Quirós (dir.). 2019. Arqueología de una comunidad campesina medieval: Zornoztegi (Álava):... more In J.A. Quirós (dir.). 2019. Arqueología de una comunidad campesina medieval: Zornoztegi (Álava): 141-235. Bilbao: Universidad del País Vasco
Defining the occupation sequence of medieval rural farming sites in Northern Iberia is complicate... more Defining the occupation sequence of medieval rural farming sites in Northern Iberia is complicated , since they feature low density of stratigraphic relationships and few finds and because of the intensive agricultural activities developed there during the last few decades. This paper presents the chronological characterization of the medieval village of Zornoztegi, located in the Basque Country, in the province of Alava. At this site, dwellings extend over an area of approximately two hectares and consist mainly of negative structures excavated in the bedrock. Radiocarbon dating measurements carried out on 32 samples , together with mortar optical microscopic analyses and other information obtained from stratigraphic relationships, changes in the settlement organization and the study of material culture, allowed structuring and characterizing the occupation sequence of the site of Zornoztegi. Furthermore, Bayesian statistics was used to reduce the range of the calibrated dates and to refine the chronology of the sequence.
This article presents the results of research on the human population buried at the early medieva... more This article presents the results of research on the human population buried at the early medieval cemetery of Boadilla (Toledo, Spain). This was the burial ground of a rural community that was established at the nearby village of Alameda del Señorío. Both sites were occupied between the end of the fifth and the beginning of the eighth century. The cemetery was characterized by the ordered arrangement of its graves, the frequent re-use of graves and the deposition of grave goods in some burials. The human osteological assemblage was poorly preserved. The minimum number of individuals was estimated to comprise 226 individuals recovered in 181 burials. The population had a demographic profile typical of premodern agricultural societies. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses were successfully carried out on 73 human and 20 faunal samples. The results indicate that the faunal diet was exclusively based on C3 resources and point to different management strategies for each taxon. The human diet was mainly based on C3 plants, but most individuals also consumed small but regular amounts of C4 resources. Protein intake was very variable and related to age, with subadults between 3 and 7 years old having the lowest intake. No relationship was found between the diet of the deceased and the deposition of grave goods in their graves. Finally, there was less variation between the individuals buried in the same grave than within the whole population, an aspect that may suggest the presence of family burials.
This paper presents the results of palaeodietary reconstruction based on stable carbon and nitrog... more This paper presents the results of palaeodietary reconstruction based on stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis on bone collagen of five medieval rural populations from the Basque Country (northern Spain) spanning from 5th to 15th centuries AD. One hundred forty-seven human and 47 domestic faunal samples were successfully analysed with the objective of defining agrarian productive strategies and food consumption patterns. The results grouped the five sites in two clusters: on one side Zaballa and Treviño, whose inhabitants followed diets exclusively based on C3 plants with significant intake of animal protein, and on the other the populations from Aistra and Zornoztegi, who combined C3 and C4 plants and consumed lower amounts of animal protein. The isotopic values from Dulantzi were intermediate to these two groups. No differences were detected when individual status markers, such as grave goods, were available. Conversely, some restrictions on the access to certain food resources based on sex were uncovered. A relevant change in δ13C values was identified around 10th century, consequence of a shift in the consumption patterns of C3 and C4 plants. Finally, these Basque sites were compared with the medieval Iberian case studies available in the literature. This comparison made evident the distinctive nature of the diet of the Basque medieval rural contexts.
In J.A. Quirós (ed). 2016. Social complexity in early medieval rural communities. The north-weste... more In J.A. Quirós (ed). 2016. Social complexity in early medieval rural communities. The north-western Iberian archaeological record: 59-78. Oxford: Archaeopress.
This paper tackles social inequality through the study of productive strategies and food consumption patterns in early medieval rural communities in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula as inferred from carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses. The potential of palaeodietary reconstruction to identify social differences and the suitability of different sources to address the topic are discussed first. Three indicators derived from isotopic analyses for the identification of social inequality are proposed: the comparison of standard deviations as a marker of homogeneity or heterogeneity within a community, δ13C values for the identification of the type of plants consumed, which are linked to the productive strategies adopted, and δ15N values for the detection of differences in the access to protein resources. This approach is applied to the rural community of Gózquez (Madrid, Spain). Isotopic analyses of domestic fauna from the settlement provide new insights into productive strategies, especially the integration between arable farming and husbandry. The analysis of human samples reveals diet was mainly based on C3 plants and restricted intake of animal protein. The most interesting outcome is the identification of small but regular consumption of C4 plants by a considerable part of the population, which can be interpreted in terms of diversification and control of the production by peasants. These data are discussed in the light of other bioarchaeological records and confronted with such features of the funerary ritual as grave types, the presence or absence of grave goods and extracemeterial burials, bringing to light the complexities of identity in early medieval communities.
This work presents a preliminary approach to the characterization of animal husbandry practices i... more This work presents a preliminary approach to the characterization of animal husbandry practices in the province of Álava (Basque Country) and Treviño (Burgos, Castilla y León) during Early and High Middle Ages. The faunal remains recovered at the rural sites of Aistra (6th-12th c.), Zornoztegi (4th-12th c.), Zaballa (8th-13th c.), Dulantzi (5th-7th c.) and the castle of Treviño (10th-11th c.) were analysed. The zooarchaeological analysis, based on taxonomic identification, biometry and the study of the kill-off patterns, was integrated with carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis performed on collagen extracted from fauna bones. Results indicate sedentary animal husbandry integrated with intensive agriculture. Other bioarchaeological and palaeoenvironmental records were also considered in the interpretation, suggesting short distance vertical transhumance. Important transformations of the husbandry patterns throughout the Middle Ages, which can be related to socioeconomic changes and modifications of the landscape, were also verified.
In Compañy, G., Fonte, J., Gómez-Arribas, B., Moragón, L. & Señorán, J. M. 2013. Actas de las V J... more In Compañy, G., Fonte, J., Gómez-Arribas, B., Moragón, L. & Señorán, J. M. 2013. Actas de las V Jornadas de Jóvenes Investigadores en Arqueología. Arqueología para el siglo XXI (Santiago de Compostela, mayo de 2012): 131-136. Madrid: JAS Arqueología.
La iglesia de San Román de Tobillas (Álava, País Vasco) se ha convertido en un caso de estudio clásico en la Historia y la Arqueología españolas, ya que combina algunos de los documentos y fábricas más antiguos del País Vasco. Éstos permiten datar sus dos fases altomedievales en los siglos IX y X respectivamente. Tanto la documentación como el estudio de la arquitectura dibujan un escenario en el que un grupo monástico dirigido por el abad Avito se integra en una comunidad aldeana prexistente gracias a los símbolos de poder político, económico y religioso que es capaz de desplegar. Además, durante las excavaciones arqueológicas de 1994 se identificó una tumba individual con cubierta a dos aguas en el ábside altomedieval. Cortaba el suelo de la fase constructiva del siglo IX y sobresaldría del pavimento original. La localización singular del enterramiento y su tipología constructiva indican que probablemente perteneció a un personaje relevante dentro de la comunidad y la datación coincide con la muerte del abad Avito. A falta de un estudio antropológico apropiado; este artículo explora esta hipótesis, integrando este nuevo dato rescatado de la literatura gris en el análisis general del contexto.
The church of San Román of Tobillas (Álava, Basque Country) has become a classic case study in Spanish History and Archaeology, as it combines some of the oldest written documents and architectures from Basque Country. These allowed dating its two early-medieval phases in 9th and 10th centuries respectively. Both written sources and the study of the architecture depict a scenario where a monastic group led by abbot Avitus integrates in a pre-existing village community thanks to the political, economical and religious symbols he is able to enhance. In addition, archaeological excavation in 1994 identified an individual grave with gable roof cover in the early-medieval apse. It cut the floor of the 9th century construction phase and would stick out from the ground. The singular location of the grave and its construction typology indicate it probably hosted an important person in the community and the chronology matches with the death of Avitus. In the absence of a proper anthropological study, this paper investigates this hypothesis integrating this new data rescued from the grey literature in the general analysis of the context.
So-called ‘forgotten’ or ‘orphan’ crops are an important component of strategies aimed at preserv... more So-called ‘forgotten’ or ‘orphan’ crops are an important component of strategies aimed at preserving and promoting biodiversity. Knowledge of historical cultivation, usage, and geographic and evolutionary trajectories of plants, that is, crop history research, is important for the long-term success of such efforts. However, research biases in the crops chosen for study may present hurdles. This review attempts to systematically identify patterns in crop species representativeness within archaeology-based crop history research. A meta-analysis and synthesis of archaeobotanical evidence (and lack thereof) is presented for 268 species known to have been cultivated for food prior to 1492 CE from the Mediterranean region to South Asia. We identified 39 genera with known crop plants in this geographical and historical context that are currently absent from its archaeobotanical record, constituting ‘orphan’ crops of archaeobotany. In addition, a worldwide synthesis of crop species studied using geometric morphometric, archaeogenetic and stable isotope analyses of archaeological plant remains is presented, and biases in the species represented in these disciplines are discussed. Both disciplinary methodological biases and economic agenda-based biases affecting species representativeness in crop history research are apparent. This study also highlights the limited geographic diffusion of most crops and the potential for deeper historical perspectives on how crops become marginalized and ‘forgotten’.
Arqueología de las sociedades locales en la Alta Edad Media. San Julián de Aistra y las residencias de las élites rurales, 2023
En el yacimiento arqueológico de Aistra se excavaron tres espacios de enterramiento medievales qu... more En el yacimiento arqueológico de Aistra se excavaron tres espacios de enterramiento medievales que permiten seguir la evolución de las prácticas funerarias a lo largo de prácticamente toda la secuencia de ocupación del asentamiento. En primer lugar, se halló una necrópolis compuesta por 52 tumbas en fosa simple, de lajas, de bloques y de muretes, que se usó principalmente durante el periodo 2 (s. VIII-principios s. X), pero que probablemente tuvo continuidad hasta el periodo 4 (ss. XII-XIII). En segundo lugar, se identificaron seis enterramientos dispersos de individuos perinatales posiblemente asociados a contextos domésticos. Este ritual funerario diferenciado reservado a los individuos que morían durante los primeros meses de vida se observó en contextos de los periodos 1 y 2 (s. VI-principios s. X) y convivió con la necrópolis altomedieval. En tercer lugar, se caracterizó el cementerio que se extendía alrededor de la iglesia de San Julián y Santa Basilisa, que habría estado en uso desde la construcción del templo en el periodo 3 (ss. X-XI) hasta finales del periodo 4 (ss. XII-XIII). En total se descubrieron 39 tumbas asociadas a la iglesia, que se extendían hasta 25 m al este y al sur del templo. El análisis comparado de estos tres conjuntos funerarios revela el uso simultáneo de varios espacios por parte de la misma comunidad y pone de manifiesto la complejidad de los rituales funerarios durante la Edad Media.
Arqueología de las sociedades locales en la Alta Edad Media. San Julián de Aistra y las residencias de las élites rurales, 2023
El propósito de este capítulo es el de presentar, en modo detallado, la descripción de la secuenc... more El propósito de este capítulo es el de presentar, en modo detallado, la descripción de la secuencia estratigráfica que ha sido identificada en las excavaciones realizadas en las excavaciones del altozano de San Julián de Aistra. En la exposición se explican los procesos seguidos para construir esta secuencia ocupacional y establecer las cronologías relativas y absolutas, prestando una atención particular a los procesos de formación de la estratigrafía arqueológica. En el capítulo 9 se incluye una lista detallada de los períodos, los grupos de actividad, las actividades y las unidades estratigráficas.
Agrarian archaeology in north-western Iberia. Local societies: the off-site record, 2023
The objective of this paper is to present the results of a multiproxy archaeological project aime... more The objective of this paper is to present the results of a multiproxy archaeological project aimed at studying historical agricultural practices in the North of the Iberian Peninsula. Through an intensive research strategy in a microregion, such as the Alava plain, the project is intended to evaluate ‘offsite’ records allowing to define verifiable trends in terms of transformation of agricultural practices and rural societies over time. For this reason, there have been considered the results of intensive surveys, intensive excavations of some deserted sites, biochemical analyses of charred seeds, human and fauna remains, some written and oral sources, ethnographic information, and the study of terraced agricultural spaces.
The integrated analysis of a diversity of records has allowed to characterize the main features of agricultural practices and their transformations between the Roman period and nowadays, comparing the trends observed in ‘off-site’ records and other evidence. Consequently, it is concluded that this record is a complex artifact, conditioned by a diversity of variables that must be defined and understood in their chronological and spatial context, avoiding both possibilistic and uncritically skeptical interpretations.
Dental calculus preserves oral microbes, enabling comparative studies of the oral microbiome and ... more Dental calculus preserves oral microbes, enabling comparative studies of the oral microbiome and health through time. However, small sample sizes and limited dental health metadata have hindered health-focused investigations to date. Here, we investigate the relationship between tobacco pipe smoking and dental calculus microbiomes. Dental calculus from 75 individuals from the 19th century Middenbeemster skeletal collection (Netherlands) were analyzed by metagenomics. Demographic and dental health parameters were systematically recorded, including the presence/number of pipe notches. Comparative data sets from European populations before and after the introduction of tobacco were also analyzed. Calculus species profiles were compared with oral pathology to examine associations between microbiome community, smoking behavior, and oral health status. The Middenbeemster individuals exhibited relatively poor oral health, with a high prevalence of periodontal disease, caries, heavy calculus deposits, and antemortem tooth loss. No associations between pipe notches and dental pathologies, or microbial species composition, were found. Calculus samples before and after the introduction of tobacco showed highly similar species profiles. Observed interindividual microbiome differences were consistent with previously described variation in human populations from the Upper Paleolithic to the present. Dental calculus may not preserve microbial indicators of health and disease status as distinctly as dental plaque.
This paper presents the results of carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses on 50 charred seed... more This paper presents the results of carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses on 50 charred seed samples from the medieval villages of Zornoztegi and Aistra, dated to between fourth and fourteenth centuries CE. The assemblage was mainly formed by Triticum aestivum/durum, although some Hordeum vulgare, Avena and Vicia ervilia samples were also included. Despite the social and political differences between the sites, no big contrasts were found between them. According to Δ13C values, watering was predominantly low to moderate. There were statistically significant differences in the distribution of carbon stable isotope ratios of wheats between Zornoztegi and Aistra, as moderately and well watered grains were more common in the former. Barley samples were consistently in the range of poorly watered grains, while bitter vetch were extremely variable. Nitrogen isotope ratios were very homogeneous across taxa and between sites, and they pointed at the predominance of low manuring regimes, with only a few samples within the range of medium manured crops. No significant chronological changes in any of the indicators were found throughout the Middle Ages.
El Monasterio de Burtzeña fue fundado en 1432 y estuvo activo durante más de 400 años. Durante es... more El Monasterio de Burtzeña fue fundado en 1432 y estuvo activo durante más de 400 años. Durante esos años la economía y el poder que ostentó fue variable, hasta que en 1836, durante la primera guerra Carlista fue destruido. Cabe destacar la construcción de un templo durante el siglo XV, junto al monasterio, en el interior del cual, hemos documentado 50 sepulturas.
Se ha estudiado el material antropológico recuperado de veintidós de las cincuenta sepulturas exc... more Se ha estudiado el material antropológico recuperado de veintidós de las cincuenta sepulturas excavadas en el convento de los mercedarios de Burtzeña. Gracias al análisis conjunto de los individuos en conexión anatómica y los restos esqueléticos en posición secundaria, se ha identificado un número mínimo de 193 individuos. La población presenta el perfil demográfico característico de las sociedades estables preindustriales, con una elevada mortalidad infantil y una clara prevalencia de mujeres, aunque se ha identificado una capilla diferenciada en la que predominan los individuos masculinos, probablemente los propios monjes mercedarios. El estado de salud oral de la población era deficiente debido a las numerosas pérdidas ante mortem y a los abundantes depósitos de cálculo dental. Se han identificado varios casos de patologías metabólicas, traumáticas y congénitas, mientras que la prevalencia de osteoartritis en la población es anecdótica.
Zandra Fagernäs, Maite I. García Collado, Jessica Hendy, Courtney A. Hofman, Camilla Speller, Ir... more Zandra Fagernäs, Maite I. García Collado, Jessica Hendy, Courtney A. Hofman, Camilla Speller, Irina Velsko, Christina Warinner. 2020. A unified protocol for simultaneous extraction of DNA and proteins from archaeological dental calculus. Journal of Archaeological Science 118: 105135 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2020.105135)
Archaeological materials are a finite resource, and efforts should be made to minimize destructive analyses. This can be achieved by using protocols combining extraction of several types of biomolecules or microparticles, which decreases the material needed for analyses while maximizing the information yield. Archaeological dental calculus is a source of several different types of biomolecules, as well as microfossils, and can tell us about the human host, microbiome, diet, and even occupational activities. Here, we present a unified protocol allowing for simultaneous extraction of DNA and proteins from a single sample of archaeological dental calculus. We evaluate the protocol on dental calculus from six individuals from a range of time periods and estimated preservation states, and compare it against previously published DNA-only and protein-only protocols. We find that most aspects of downstream analyses are unaltered by the unified protocol, although minor shifts in the recovered proteome can be detected, such as a slight loss of hydrophilic proteins. Total protein recovery depends on both the amount of starting material and choice of extraction protocol, whereas total DNA recovery is significantly reduced using the unified protocol (mean 43%). Nevertheless, total DNA recovery from dental calculus is generally very high, and we found no differences in DNA fragment characteristics or taxonomic profile between the protocols. In conclusion, the unified protocol allows for simultaneous extraction of two complementary lines of biomolecular evidence from archaeological dental calculus without compromising downstream results, thereby minimizing the need for destructive analysis of this finite resource.
In J.A. Quirós (dir.). 2019. Arqueología de una comunidad campesina medieval: Zornoztegi (Álava):... more In J.A. Quirós (dir.). 2019. Arqueología de una comunidad campesina medieval: Zornoztegi (Álava): 141-235. Bilbao: Universidad del País Vasco
Defining the occupation sequence of medieval rural farming sites in Northern Iberia is complicate... more Defining the occupation sequence of medieval rural farming sites in Northern Iberia is complicated , since they feature low density of stratigraphic relationships and few finds and because of the intensive agricultural activities developed there during the last few decades. This paper presents the chronological characterization of the medieval village of Zornoztegi, located in the Basque Country, in the province of Alava. At this site, dwellings extend over an area of approximately two hectares and consist mainly of negative structures excavated in the bedrock. Radiocarbon dating measurements carried out on 32 samples , together with mortar optical microscopic analyses and other information obtained from stratigraphic relationships, changes in the settlement organization and the study of material culture, allowed structuring and characterizing the occupation sequence of the site of Zornoztegi. Furthermore, Bayesian statistics was used to reduce the range of the calibrated dates and to refine the chronology of the sequence.
This article presents the results of research on the human population buried at the early medieva... more This article presents the results of research on the human population buried at the early medieval cemetery of Boadilla (Toledo, Spain). This was the burial ground of a rural community that was established at the nearby village of Alameda del Señorío. Both sites were occupied between the end of the fifth and the beginning of the eighth century. The cemetery was characterized by the ordered arrangement of its graves, the frequent re-use of graves and the deposition of grave goods in some burials. The human osteological assemblage was poorly preserved. The minimum number of individuals was estimated to comprise 226 individuals recovered in 181 burials. The population had a demographic profile typical of premodern agricultural societies. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses were successfully carried out on 73 human and 20 faunal samples. The results indicate that the faunal diet was exclusively based on C3 resources and point to different management strategies for each taxon. The human diet was mainly based on C3 plants, but most individuals also consumed small but regular amounts of C4 resources. Protein intake was very variable and related to age, with subadults between 3 and 7 years old having the lowest intake. No relationship was found between the diet of the deceased and the deposition of grave goods in their graves. Finally, there was less variation between the individuals buried in the same grave than within the whole population, an aspect that may suggest the presence of family burials.
This paper presents the results of palaeodietary reconstruction based on stable carbon and nitrog... more This paper presents the results of palaeodietary reconstruction based on stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis on bone collagen of five medieval rural populations from the Basque Country (northern Spain) spanning from 5th to 15th centuries AD. One hundred forty-seven human and 47 domestic faunal samples were successfully analysed with the objective of defining agrarian productive strategies and food consumption patterns. The results grouped the five sites in two clusters: on one side Zaballa and Treviño, whose inhabitants followed diets exclusively based on C3 plants with significant intake of animal protein, and on the other the populations from Aistra and Zornoztegi, who combined C3 and C4 plants and consumed lower amounts of animal protein. The isotopic values from Dulantzi were intermediate to these two groups. No differences were detected when individual status markers, such as grave goods, were available. Conversely, some restrictions on the access to certain food resources based on sex were uncovered. A relevant change in δ13C values was identified around 10th century, consequence of a shift in the consumption patterns of C3 and C4 plants. Finally, these Basque sites were compared with the medieval Iberian case studies available in the literature. This comparison made evident the distinctive nature of the diet of the Basque medieval rural contexts.
In J.A. Quirós (ed). 2016. Social complexity in early medieval rural communities. The north-weste... more In J.A. Quirós (ed). 2016. Social complexity in early medieval rural communities. The north-western Iberian archaeological record: 59-78. Oxford: Archaeopress.
This paper tackles social inequality through the study of productive strategies and food consumption patterns in early medieval rural communities in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula as inferred from carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses. The potential of palaeodietary reconstruction to identify social differences and the suitability of different sources to address the topic are discussed first. Three indicators derived from isotopic analyses for the identification of social inequality are proposed: the comparison of standard deviations as a marker of homogeneity or heterogeneity within a community, δ13C values for the identification of the type of plants consumed, which are linked to the productive strategies adopted, and δ15N values for the detection of differences in the access to protein resources. This approach is applied to the rural community of Gózquez (Madrid, Spain). Isotopic analyses of domestic fauna from the settlement provide new insights into productive strategies, especially the integration between arable farming and husbandry. The analysis of human samples reveals diet was mainly based on C3 plants and restricted intake of animal protein. The most interesting outcome is the identification of small but regular consumption of C4 plants by a considerable part of the population, which can be interpreted in terms of diversification and control of the production by peasants. These data are discussed in the light of other bioarchaeological records and confronted with such features of the funerary ritual as grave types, the presence or absence of grave goods and extracemeterial burials, bringing to light the complexities of identity in early medieval communities.
This work presents a preliminary approach to the characterization of animal husbandry practices i... more This work presents a preliminary approach to the characterization of animal husbandry practices in the province of Álava (Basque Country) and Treviño (Burgos, Castilla y León) during Early and High Middle Ages. The faunal remains recovered at the rural sites of Aistra (6th-12th c.), Zornoztegi (4th-12th c.), Zaballa (8th-13th c.), Dulantzi (5th-7th c.) and the castle of Treviño (10th-11th c.) were analysed. The zooarchaeological analysis, based on taxonomic identification, biometry and the study of the kill-off patterns, was integrated with carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis performed on collagen extracted from fauna bones. Results indicate sedentary animal husbandry integrated with intensive agriculture. Other bioarchaeological and palaeoenvironmental records were also considered in the interpretation, suggesting short distance vertical transhumance. Important transformations of the husbandry patterns throughout the Middle Ages, which can be related to socioeconomic changes and modifications of the landscape, were also verified.
In Compañy, G., Fonte, J., Gómez-Arribas, B., Moragón, L. & Señorán, J. M. 2013. Actas de las V J... more In Compañy, G., Fonte, J., Gómez-Arribas, B., Moragón, L. & Señorán, J. M. 2013. Actas de las V Jornadas de Jóvenes Investigadores en Arqueología. Arqueología para el siglo XXI (Santiago de Compostela, mayo de 2012): 131-136. Madrid: JAS Arqueología.
La iglesia de San Román de Tobillas (Álava, País Vasco) se ha convertido en un caso de estudio clásico en la Historia y la Arqueología españolas, ya que combina algunos de los documentos y fábricas más antiguos del País Vasco. Éstos permiten datar sus dos fases altomedievales en los siglos IX y X respectivamente. Tanto la documentación como el estudio de la arquitectura dibujan un escenario en el que un grupo monástico dirigido por el abad Avito se integra en una comunidad aldeana prexistente gracias a los símbolos de poder político, económico y religioso que es capaz de desplegar. Además, durante las excavaciones arqueológicas de 1994 se identificó una tumba individual con cubierta a dos aguas en el ábside altomedieval. Cortaba el suelo de la fase constructiva del siglo IX y sobresaldría del pavimento original. La localización singular del enterramiento y su tipología constructiva indican que probablemente perteneció a un personaje relevante dentro de la comunidad y la datación coincide con la muerte del abad Avito. A falta de un estudio antropológico apropiado; este artículo explora esta hipótesis, integrando este nuevo dato rescatado de la literatura gris en el análisis general del contexto.
The church of San Román of Tobillas (Álava, Basque Country) has become a classic case study in Spanish History and Archaeology, as it combines some of the oldest written documents and architectures from Basque Country. These allowed dating its two early-medieval phases in 9th and 10th centuries respectively. Both written sources and the study of the architecture depict a scenario where a monastic group led by abbot Avitus integrates in a pre-existing village community thanks to the political, economical and religious symbols he is able to enhance. In addition, archaeological excavation in 1994 identified an individual grave with gable roof cover in the early-medieval apse. It cut the floor of the 9th century construction phase and would stick out from the ground. The singular location of the grave and its construction typology indicate it probably hosted an important person in the community and the chronology matches with the death of Avitus. In the absence of a proper anthropological study, this paper investigates this hypothesis integrating this new data rescued from the grey literature in the general analysis of the context.
EMBIO21 Early Medieval Bioanthropology 2021. New approaches to Early Medieval funerary contexts in the centre and north of the Iberian Peninsula
The castle of Viguera is a fortified settlement located in Viguera (La Rioja, Spain). Its militar... more The castle of Viguera is a fortified settlement located in Viguera (La Rioja, Spain). Its military function is related to the control of the crossing of two important nearby roads. Six occupational phases between 4th and 14th centuries CE and have been identified archaeologically. This tells us about the continuity of occupation with similar territorial management patterns, despite the tremendous social, cultural, economic and political changes between each phase. So far 18 individual burials distributed around a religious building have been excavated. Even though, they are still a small sample, they have provided interesting new data to characterise the occupation of this site. Although adult males prevailed, adult women and children were also present. Oral pathologies were the most frequent type of disease. Among them dental calculus stood out, which can be related to a diet rich in protein. Trauma were also remarkable, including two cases of multiple injuries and one sharp force trauma. In addition, carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses provided a first approach to the diet of this population. δ13C values ranged between -19.6‰ and -18.4‰ and δ15N between 9.3‰ and 12.3‰, pointing at a diet largely based on C3 crops, possibly with small input of C4 plants, and moderate consumption of animal protein. It is remarkable that this is the population with one of the highest δ15N mean values of medieval northern Iberia, which suggests the diet in this castle may have been richer in meat and other animal byproducts than in other settlements and is consistent with the high prevalence of dental calculus.
The Late Roman cemetery of Lankhills is located at the periphery of the city of Winchester. It is... more The Late Roman cemetery of Lankhills is located at the periphery of the city of Winchester. It is a deeply studied burial ground excavated during the 70s and again between 2000 and 2005. The most recent intervention allowed to revise many of the statements assumed by the first one and gave the opportunity to study the numerous human remains under modern standards. Moreover, it allowed to apply an innovative molecular technique, Strontium and Oxygen isotope analysis, for answering one of the classical questions of this site: the geographical origin and ethnical identity of this population. The quick publication of both the anthropological study and the results of the isotopic analysis has made available a great amount of information for the study of, among others, the effects of migration on health. Assuming the isotopic analysis are able to identify individuals with non-local origin, this poster explores the idea that migration is a source of stress that could be reflected on the skeleton. This is tried to be proved through the statistical analysis of traditionally accepted skeletal indicators of stress (stature, enamel hypoplasia, cribra orbitalia, trauma and periostitis). However, it is recognized that the sample for which isotopic data is available is still too small, so this study pretends nothing than to be a preliminary try of opening a new research line.
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Papers by Maite I . García-Collado
The integrated analysis of a diversity of records has allowed to characterize the main features of agricultural practices and their transformations between the Roman period and nowadays, comparing the trends observed in ‘off-site’ records and other evidence. Consequently, it is concluded that this record is a complex artifact, conditioned by a diversity of variables that must be defined and understood in their chronological and spatial context, avoiding both possibilistic and uncritically skeptical interpretations.
Archaeological materials are a finite resource, and efforts should be made to minimize destructive analyses. This can be achieved by using protocols combining extraction of several types of biomolecules or microparticles, which decreases the material needed for analyses while maximizing the information yield. Archaeological dental calculus is a source of several different types of biomolecules, as well as microfossils, and can tell us about the human host, microbiome, diet, and even occupational activities. Here, we present a unified protocol allowing for simultaneous extraction of DNA and proteins from a single sample of archaeological dental calculus. We evaluate the protocol on dental calculus from six individuals from a range of time periods and estimated preservation states, and compare it against previously published DNA-only and protein-only protocols. We find that most aspects of downstream analyses are unaltered by the unified protocol, although minor shifts in the recovered proteome can be detected, such as a slight loss of hydrophilic proteins. Total protein recovery depends on both the amount of starting material and choice of extraction protocol, whereas total DNA recovery is significantly reduced using the unified protocol (mean 43%). Nevertheless, total DNA recovery from dental calculus is generally very high, and we found no differences in DNA fragment characteristics or taxonomic profile between the protocols. In conclusion, the unified protocol allows for simultaneous extraction of two complementary lines of biomolecular evidence from archaeological dental calculus without compromising downstream results, thereby minimizing the need for destructive analysis of this finite resource.
This paper tackles social inequality through the study of productive strategies and food consumption patterns in early medieval rural communities in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula as inferred from carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses. The potential of palaeodietary reconstruction to identify social differences and the suitability of different sources to address the topic are discussed first. Three indicators derived from isotopic analyses for the identification of social inequality are proposed: the comparison of standard deviations as a marker of homogeneity or heterogeneity within a community, δ13C values for the identification of the type of plants consumed, which are linked to the productive strategies adopted, and δ15N values for the detection of differences in the access to protein resources. This approach is applied to the rural community of Gózquez (Madrid, Spain). Isotopic analyses of domestic fauna from the settlement provide new insights into productive strategies, especially the integration between arable farming and husbandry. The analysis of human samples reveals diet was mainly based on C3 plants and restricted intake of animal
protein. The most interesting outcome is the identification of small but regular consumption of C4 plants by a considerable part of the population, which can be interpreted in terms of diversification and control of the production by peasants. These data are discussed in the light of other bioarchaeological records and confronted with such features of the funerary ritual as grave types, the presence or absence of grave goods and extracemeterial burials, bringing to light the complexities of identity in early medieval communities.
La iglesia de San Román de Tobillas (Álava, País Vasco) se ha convertido en un caso de estudio clásico en la Historia y la Arqueología españolas, ya que combina algunos de los documentos y fábricas más antiguos del País Vasco. Éstos permiten datar sus dos fases altomedievales en los siglos IX y X respectivamente. Tanto la documentación como el estudio de la arquitectura dibujan un escenario en el que un grupo monástico dirigido por el abad Avito se integra en una comunidad aldeana prexistente gracias a los símbolos de poder político, económico y religioso que es capaz de desplegar. Además, durante las excavaciones arqueológicas de 1994 se identificó una tumba individual con cubierta a dos aguas en el ábside altomedieval. Cortaba el suelo de la fase constructiva del siglo IX y sobresaldría del pavimento original. La localización singular del enterramiento y su tipología constructiva indican que probablemente perteneció a un personaje relevante dentro de la comunidad y la datación coincide con la muerte del abad Avito. A falta de un estudio antropológico apropiado; este artículo explora esta hipótesis, integrando este nuevo dato rescatado de la literatura gris en el análisis general del contexto.
The church of San Román of Tobillas (Álava, Basque Country) has become a classic case study in Spanish History and Archaeology, as it combines some of the oldest written documents and architectures from Basque Country. These allowed dating its two early-medieval phases in 9th and 10th centuries respectively. Both written sources and the study of the architecture depict a scenario where a monastic group led by abbot Avitus integrates in a pre-existing village community thanks to the political, economical and religious symbols he is able to enhance. In addition, archaeological excavation in 1994 identified an individual grave with gable roof cover in the early-medieval apse. It cut the floor of the 9th century construction phase and would stick out from the ground. The singular location of the grave and its construction typology indicate it probably hosted an important person in the community and the chronology matches with the death of Avitus. In the absence of a proper anthropological study, this paper investigates this hypothesis integrating this new data rescued from the grey literature in the general analysis of the context.
The integrated analysis of a diversity of records has allowed to characterize the main features of agricultural practices and their transformations between the Roman period and nowadays, comparing the trends observed in ‘off-site’ records and other evidence. Consequently, it is concluded that this record is a complex artifact, conditioned by a diversity of variables that must be defined and understood in their chronological and spatial context, avoiding both possibilistic and uncritically skeptical interpretations.
Archaeological materials are a finite resource, and efforts should be made to minimize destructive analyses. This can be achieved by using protocols combining extraction of several types of biomolecules or microparticles, which decreases the material needed for analyses while maximizing the information yield. Archaeological dental calculus is a source of several different types of biomolecules, as well as microfossils, and can tell us about the human host, microbiome, diet, and even occupational activities. Here, we present a unified protocol allowing for simultaneous extraction of DNA and proteins from a single sample of archaeological dental calculus. We evaluate the protocol on dental calculus from six individuals from a range of time periods and estimated preservation states, and compare it against previously published DNA-only and protein-only protocols. We find that most aspects of downstream analyses are unaltered by the unified protocol, although minor shifts in the recovered proteome can be detected, such as a slight loss of hydrophilic proteins. Total protein recovery depends on both the amount of starting material and choice of extraction protocol, whereas total DNA recovery is significantly reduced using the unified protocol (mean 43%). Nevertheless, total DNA recovery from dental calculus is generally very high, and we found no differences in DNA fragment characteristics or taxonomic profile between the protocols. In conclusion, the unified protocol allows for simultaneous extraction of two complementary lines of biomolecular evidence from archaeological dental calculus without compromising downstream results, thereby minimizing the need for destructive analysis of this finite resource.
This paper tackles social inequality through the study of productive strategies and food consumption patterns in early medieval rural communities in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula as inferred from carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses. The potential of palaeodietary reconstruction to identify social differences and the suitability of different sources to address the topic are discussed first. Three indicators derived from isotopic analyses for the identification of social inequality are proposed: the comparison of standard deviations as a marker of homogeneity or heterogeneity within a community, δ13C values for the identification of the type of plants consumed, which are linked to the productive strategies adopted, and δ15N values for the detection of differences in the access to protein resources. This approach is applied to the rural community of Gózquez (Madrid, Spain). Isotopic analyses of domestic fauna from the settlement provide new insights into productive strategies, especially the integration between arable farming and husbandry. The analysis of human samples reveals diet was mainly based on C3 plants and restricted intake of animal
protein. The most interesting outcome is the identification of small but regular consumption of C4 plants by a considerable part of the population, which can be interpreted in terms of diversification and control of the production by peasants. These data are discussed in the light of other bioarchaeological records and confronted with such features of the funerary ritual as grave types, the presence or absence of grave goods and extracemeterial burials, bringing to light the complexities of identity in early medieval communities.
La iglesia de San Román de Tobillas (Álava, País Vasco) se ha convertido en un caso de estudio clásico en la Historia y la Arqueología españolas, ya que combina algunos de los documentos y fábricas más antiguos del País Vasco. Éstos permiten datar sus dos fases altomedievales en los siglos IX y X respectivamente. Tanto la documentación como el estudio de la arquitectura dibujan un escenario en el que un grupo monástico dirigido por el abad Avito se integra en una comunidad aldeana prexistente gracias a los símbolos de poder político, económico y religioso que es capaz de desplegar. Además, durante las excavaciones arqueológicas de 1994 se identificó una tumba individual con cubierta a dos aguas en el ábside altomedieval. Cortaba el suelo de la fase constructiva del siglo IX y sobresaldría del pavimento original. La localización singular del enterramiento y su tipología constructiva indican que probablemente perteneció a un personaje relevante dentro de la comunidad y la datación coincide con la muerte del abad Avito. A falta de un estudio antropológico apropiado; este artículo explora esta hipótesis, integrando este nuevo dato rescatado de la literatura gris en el análisis general del contexto.
The church of San Román of Tobillas (Álava, Basque Country) has become a classic case study in Spanish History and Archaeology, as it combines some of the oldest written documents and architectures from Basque Country. These allowed dating its two early-medieval phases in 9th and 10th centuries respectively. Both written sources and the study of the architecture depict a scenario where a monastic group led by abbot Avitus integrates in a pre-existing village community thanks to the political, economical and religious symbols he is able to enhance. In addition, archaeological excavation in 1994 identified an individual grave with gable roof cover in the early-medieval apse. It cut the floor of the 9th century construction phase and would stick out from the ground. The singular location of the grave and its construction typology indicate it probably hosted an important person in the community and the chronology matches with the death of Avitus. In the absence of a proper anthropological study, this paper investigates this hypothesis integrating this new data rescued from the grey literature in the general analysis of the context.
So far 18 individual burials distributed around a religious building have been excavated. Even though, they are still a small sample, they have provided interesting new data to characterise the occupation of this site. Although adult males prevailed, adult women and children were also present. Oral pathologies were the most frequent type of disease. Among them dental calculus stood out, which can be related to a diet rich in protein. Trauma were also remarkable, including two cases of multiple injuries and one sharp force trauma.
In addition, carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses provided a first approach to the diet of this population. δ13C values ranged between -19.6‰ and -18.4‰ and δ15N between 9.3‰ and 12.3‰, pointing at a diet largely based on C3 crops, possibly with small input of C4 plants, and moderate consumption of animal protein. It is remarkable that this is the population with one of the highest δ15N mean values of medieval northern Iberia, which suggests the diet in this castle may have been richer in meat and other animal byproducts than in other settlements and is consistent with the high prevalence of dental calculus.
The quick publication of both the anthropological study and the results of the isotopic analysis has made available a great amount of information for the study of, among others, the effects of migration on health. Assuming the isotopic analysis are able to identify individuals with non-local origin, this poster explores the idea that migration is a source of stress that could be reflected on the skeleton. This is tried to be proved through the statistical analysis of traditionally accepted skeletal indicators of stress (stature, enamel hypoplasia, cribra orbitalia, trauma and periostitis). However, it is recognized that the sample for which isotopic data is available is still too small, so this study pretends nothing than to be a preliminary try of opening a new research line.