Diet in Medieval Florence: What Bones Reveal About Everyday Food

What is it about?

What did people living in medieval Florence actually eat? Written sources describe foods and dietary rules, but they do not always reflect everyday practices. This study investigates the diet of individuals buried in the former church of San Pier Scheraggio, now located beneath the Uffizi complex in Florence, and dated between the 11th and 13th centuries. By analysing stable isotopes of carbon, nitrogen, and sulphur preserved in human and animal bones, it is possible to reconstruct the types of foods people consumed. The results suggest a diet largely based on cereals such as wheat and barley, complemented by a significant amount of terrestrial animal products when compared with coeval populations. There is little evidence for the regular consumption of marine fish. The isotopic data also indicate broadly similar diets among the individuals studied.

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Photo by Kamilla Isalieva on Unsplash

Photo by Kamilla Isalieva on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Direct evidence of diet helps us better understand everyday life in past societies. Food choices reflect not only available resources but also social context and economic organisation. In this case, the results provide insight into food consumption in medieval Florence and suggest how an urban community accessed food through connections with surrounding rural areas. When considered alongside data from sites such as Monte di Croce, the study contributes to a better understanding of how diet, social status, and emerging market networks were linked in the urban environment of the High Middle Ages.