CREATING STABLE ISOTOPIC DATABASE OF FAUNAL REMAINS ‒ BRONZE AGE ITALY
CREATING STABLE ISOTOPIC DATABASE OF FAUNAL REMAINS ‒ BRONZE AGE ITALY

Summary/Abstract: This article presents a zooarchaeological isotopic database for Bronze Age Italy, based onpreviously published isotopic studies. It integrates 209 samples from both, domesticated and wild animals,across Northern, Central, and Southern Italy. The primary aim of the study is to provide comprehensivedescription of isotopic data covering historical, archaeological, biological, zooarchaeological, geologicalinformation in one compile file. It offers a wide-ranging analysis of animal and plant consumption patternsacross Italy during the Bronze Age, highlighting differences and similarities across the Italian peninsulaand islands. The article underlines isotopic databases as a crucial source for meta-analytical research ofprehistorical lifestyle, underscoring their significance in archaeological studies and providing multi-lay-ered insights into prehistoric human-animal interactions. Furthermore, it presents a vital importance ofzooarchaeology, as a discipline to investigate human dietary and husbandry practices. Statistical methodsare applied to visualize and interpret the isotopic data in order to enhance the clarity and accuracy of di-etary and socio-economic dynamics in Bronze Age Italy. After gathering isotopic studies and organizingthem in an excel file based on various criteria, statistical tests for multiple comparison analysis of isotopicratios were performed using the SPSS software. The Results suggest marked regional differences in diet,with Northern Italy showing early evidence of C4 plant cultivation, such as millet, while Central andSouthern Italy maintained a reliance on traditional cereals like wheat and barley (C3 plants).

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