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

Archaeological data and written sources suggest that the Longobards were a community “on the move”. To support this hypothesis, we analysed strontium isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) to explore mobility patterns of 24 individuals buried in the Longobard graveyard at Povegliano Veronese (Verona; late 6th - early 8th century). This site, located on the Via Postumia, represents a possible arrival destination from Pannonia.