Category: Archaeology of Food

ICAC archaeobotanists collaborate with colleagues in Barcelona and France to explore agriculture in Roman Gallia

Marie Skłodowska-Curie postdoctoral fellow Dr Jessie Feito (‘FoodMod-RGB: Modelling food plant trade in the Roman provinces of Gaul and Britannia’ [HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01]) recently returned from working in the University of Barcelona, Department of Biology isotope lab with Professor Jose Luis Aarus Ortega, Maria Dolors Serret Molins, and Joel Segarra Torruella. She spent a few weeks processing samples from the Roman site…
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New archaeobotanical collaboration on the archaeobotany of the Bronze Age town of Akrotiri, Santorini 

This June-July Dr Alexandra Livarda visited the archaeological site of Akrotiri at Santorini, Greece, to start a new research collaboration with Dr Anaya Sarpaki, the head archaeobotanist of this important site. Akrotiri was a Bronze Age town, buried under the ashes of the volcanic eruption that led to the destruction of this busy and prosperous…
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Our Roman archaeobotanists in fieldwork and conferences

Our MSCA post-doctoral fellow, Dr Jessie Feito, went for another year to Pompeii with the Casa della Regina Carolina Excavations (University of Bologna, Cornell University, Harvard University). Jessie does the archaeobotany for the project, using archaeobotanical macroremains (e.g., seeds, fruits) to explore plant use within the house and plant-human interactions in one of the largest…
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Research synergies between ICAC and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS)

Dr Alexandra Livarda visited the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences at Sofia between the 12th and 15th of May after an invitation by the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research and the National Archaeological Institute & Museum. She was warmly received by Dr Kaloyan Pramatarov, Dr Nataliya Ivanova and Dr Mila Andonova who have been excellent hosts throughout.…
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New publication shedding light on animal production and consumption in the aristocratic residence of Els Munts (Tarragona, Catalonia)

We are pleased to announce the publication of our new article just out in Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. “When luxury comes to an end: Animal production and consumption in the late Roman occupation of the aristocratic residence of Els Munts (Tarragona, Catalonia)” Abstract: The end of the 3rd century AD in the Western Roman…
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‘Food taboos in archaeology’ – another CUP Elements out and free to download until 24th of March

One week after the publication of the ‘Hunting and Eating symbols’ by Nerissa Russell in the series ‘Elements in the Archaeology of Food’, edited by Katheryn C. Twiss (Stony Brook University, NY) and Alexandra Livarda (ICAC/GIAP-CERCA), a new book is already out! This one explores the fascinating history of food taboos: ‘Food taboos in archaeology’…
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Hunting and Eating Symbols: new Element in the Archaeology of Food series – Golden Open Access until March 16th

The series ‘Elements in the Archaeology of Food’, edited by Katheryn C. Twiss (Stony Brook University, NY) and Alexandra Livarda (ICAC/GIAP-CERCA), are taking off! Soon after the publication of the last book ‘The behavioural ecology of food’ on the 23rd of January, a new volume is freshly out of the typesetter!  ‘Hunting and Eating symbols’ by…
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New Research on Roman Foodways and Plant Use at Iesso (Catalonia, Spain)

Two recently published papers shed new light on the agricultural practices, foodways, and plant management strategies of Roman Iesso, one of the few sites in the Iberian Peninsula with exceptional, waterlogged, preservation of plant remains, opening up new windows into Roman economy and tastes.  The first paper, published in Environmental Archaeology by Theoni Baniou, Núria Romaní Sala, Patricia…
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The Behavioural Ecology of Food: new book in the Elements in the Archaeology of Food series – free access until February 10th

The series ‘Elements in the Archaeology of Food’, edited by Katheryn C. Twiss (Stony Brook University, NY) and Alexandra Livarda (ICAC/GIAP-CERCA), presents the latest book published ‘The Behavioral Ecology of Food’ by Elic Weitzel and Natalie Munro.  Summary: Due to the multi-faceted nature of food – as sustenance, symbol, and commodity – diverse theoretical perspectives…
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A new Dr in the group! Theoni Baniou successfully passed her viva with Cum Laude

On the 3rd of December, PhD candidate Theoni Baniou had her final examination of her PhD thesis. Supervised by Dr Alexandra Livarda (GIAP/ICAC) and Dr Núria Romaní Sala (UAB), her work entitled:  ‘Exploring Roman tastes: An interdisciplinary approach, using archaeobotany, organic residue analysis and GMM to reconstruct dietary habits in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula’…
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