Ricerc@Sapienza

The study of migrations provides crucial information for the archaeological research. In fact, there is a strong relation between the chemical composition of an individuals tissues and his/her mobility strategies: these can reflect the way individuals choose to reside and/or move during their life. The strontium isotope ratio (87Sr/86Sr) of skeletal remains is nowadays considered a reliable method to assess residential mobility and origin of past populations.

The Longobard necropolis of Povegliano Veronese, discovered in 1985, is located in the Veneto region of Northern Italy. It is located near the “Via Postumia”, one of the main ancient Roman roads of Northern Italy. The necropolis was excavated in two field seasons (1985-86 and 1992-93). As a result, 162 Longobard burials were recovered. Based on the archaeological evidence the necropolis was dated from the late VI century to the early VIII century AD. A critical defining cultural aspect

In facing the investigation of a migrant population as the Lombards, it is never simple nor intuitive to collect all available sources. The Lombards started their departure from Scoringa, a small island close to the coast of Germany. European burial contexts testify their path across the North of Europe to Hungary, the ancient Roman region of Pannonia. As reported in Historia Langobardorum by Paul the Deacon, in 568 AD this population crossed the Italian boundary to occupy its territories. From this moment, the interaction with the inhabitants and land-use began.