Isolation and Identity in a 5th/6th century Ostrogothic Rural Community in Frascaro, Italy

Abstract This study investigates the mobility and integration of a rural Ostrogothic community in Frascaro in Northern Italy (~490–550 CE) through the combination of strontium isotope analysis (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) and archaeological context. While there are written sources about the Ostrogothic presence in Italy, direct evidence of Ostrogothic communities in Northern Italy remains limited, particularly outside strategic or military contexts. This study represents an attempt to fill this gap in knowledge. Our isotopic results indicate a community that remained culturally distinct and economically isolated in rural Italy during Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages. The absence of long-distance trade, reliance on local resources, and continuity of Ostrogothic cultural traditions suggest a population that was both self-sustaining and socially stable over multiple generations. Rather than being a transient or highly mobile group, this community appears to have remained distinct while adapting to local conditions. These findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding of Ostrogothic settlement strategies and cultural persistence in post-Roman Italy.