Archaeological Evidence for the Dietary Practices and Lifestyle of 18th Century Lisbon, Portugal—Combined Steroidal Biomarker and Microparticle Analysis of the Carbonized Faecal Remains
Ana Fundurulic,
Ana Manhita,
Vanessa Galiza Filipe,
José Pedro Henriques,
António Marques,
Alessandra Celant,
Donatella Magri,
Cristina Barrocas Dias
Affiliations
Ana Fundurulic
Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Ana Manhita
HERCULES Laboratory, University of Évora, Palácio do Vimioso, Largo Marquês de Marialva 8, 7000-809 Evora, Portugal
Vanessa Galiza Filipe
Cota 80-86, Lda, Rua Alves Torgo 16b, 1000-033 Lisbon, Portugal
José Pedro Henriques
Cota 80-86, Lda, Rua Alves Torgo 16b, 1000-033 Lisbon, Portugal
António Marques
Lisbon Archeology Center, Department of Cultural Heritage, Municipal Directorate of Culture, Avenida da Índia 166, 1400-207 Lisbon, Portugal
Alessandra Celant
Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Donatella Magri
Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Cristina Barrocas Dias
HERCULES Laboratory, University of Évora, Palácio do Vimioso, Largo Marquês de Marialva 8, 7000-809 Evora, Portugal
The study of the urban context in the contemporary center of Portugal’s capital city uncovered traces of daily lives that were abruptly interrupted and utterly transformed by the Great Lisbon Earthquake on the morning of 1 November 1755. Charred organic residue was recovered from a cylindrical vessel excavated from the storage area of the town house at the Rossio square. The archaeological sample was studied through a multi-analytical approach based on microstructural, elemental and biomolecular characterization by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FT-IR), variable pressure scanning electron microscopy coupled to energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (VP-SEM-EDS), and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The residue was identified as human faeces collected in the ceramic vessel for disposal, and further analysis provided additional information about diet and the living conditions in the 18th century.
