A multidisciplinary investigation of high medieval subsistence practices in a mediterranean mining district: the case of Montieri castle (Tuscany, Italy)

The formation and transformation of medieval castles are key themes in European historical research, providing insights into socio-economic structures and resource management. This paper concentrates on the Castle of Montieri, located in the Colline Metallifere district (Tuscany), to investigate the subsistence practices of a medieval community within a Mediterranean mining district. Known for its extensive mining veins essential for coin minting, Montieri played a pivotal role in the regional economy during its economic peak from the late 12th to the 13th century. Our research employed a multidisciplinary approach, merging archaeological, bioarchaeological, and palaeopathological data to investigate the health and diet of Montieri’s inhabitants. We performed stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope analysis on human (n = 56) and animal (n = 15) skeletal remains from the Canonica di San Niccolò, an important religious complex near the castle. The presence of a privileged burial, likely a focal point for numerous other burials, underscores its significant role within the community. Isotopic data revealed distinct dietary patterns across the population, likely reflecting differing access to resources among social strata. Additionally, radiocarbon dating of selected human samples (n = 5) helped refine the chronological framework of the cemetery’s use. Our findings highlight the complex socio-economic landscape and subsistence practices of medieval Montieri in a broader regional context. The employment of a multidisciplinary approach not only allowed us to deepen our understanding of medieval communities but also shed light on the dynamic interplay between social structures and dietary habits in this historically significant mining settlement.