Abstract

In this talk, I explore the intersections of food, identity, and socio-political change in the multi-faith societies of the medieval Mediterranean, where Christian, Muslim, and Jewish communities coexisted in complex and shifting ways. Drawing on more than 15 years of archaeological and biomolecular research — including my work on the European and UKRI -funded projects SICTRANSIT , Landscapes of (Re)conquest, and MEDGREENREV — I trace the diets of urban and rural communities in Iberia and Sicily. Stable isotope analysis of human and animal remains, alongside organic residue analysis of pottery, reveals that dietary choices were not simply determined by religious affiliation. Instead, they were shaped by an intricate interplay of socio-economic status, urban–rural divides, political regimes, and environmental change—though exceptions persist. By foregrounding these biomolecular perspectives, the talk demonstrates how food operated as a medium for negotiating belonging, distinction, and identity in the diverse and dynamic societies of the medieval Mediterranean.

The link to join the lecture online is here: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/3693237776111?p=raZyEwVDtKHkBu2fP9