Foodways and Cultural Identity in Roman Republican Italy.

Abstract

Foodways – the methods of production, preparation, and consumption of food and drink – are credited with reflecting and constituting expressions of identity throughout history. One of the benefits of foodways studies is their potential to reach into the domestic realm: how do the daily behaviors of individuals express their personal identity, and how does this relate to changes and expressions of cultural identity in the public realm? This dissertation uses the examination of food and dining in Republican Italy to illuminate the nature of cultural change in central Italy. Methods of studying the cultural effects of Roman contact and conquest have focused primarily on the observations of changes in the public realm: that is, city planning, architecture, and monumentality through inscriptions and art. While such evidence informs our understanding of the cultural associations desired by both individuals and entire cities, these outward displays of cultural affiliation often differ from people’s more private practices. Using two sites in central Italy as case studies, I undertake a systematic morphological examination and use-alteration analysis of ceramics from domestic contexts used for cooking, preparing, and serving food and I compare trends in the use of ceramics to trends in the faunal record from the same locations. I use statistical analyses to compare changing vessel sizes, proportions of vessel types, and associations between different patterns of wear in order to determine how ceramics were being employed by ancient users. I examine changing proportions of animal species, cuts of meat, and processing methods. Through detailed study, it becomes possible to deduce cooking methods and the types of foods being prepared and consumed. I also consider how contemporary Latin authors, all of whom originated from outside of Rome, articulate cultural identity through foodways. I conclude that food behaviors in this period suggest a complexification of Roman Italy over time and I highlight the importance of regional variation and the continuity of local environments. Ultimately, this project nuances how we understand the expansion of Rome in Italy by adding an important dimension to the methods employed in studying inter-cultural contact.