Unveiling Syedra: Archaeogenomic insights into an Anatolian coastal city during the Roman-Byzantine transition

2026-07-22

The transition from Roman to Byzantine rule in Anatolia brought significant sociopolitical and cultural transformations, particularly in coastal cities such as Syedra, located on the southern coast of modern-day Turkiye. Syedra prospered as a thriving urban centre during the Roman era and retained its importance under Byzantine rule. However, despite extensive archaeological research, the impact of this transition on the Syedra community hitherto has not been explored through archaeogenomics. To address this gap, I aim to conduct an archaeogenomic study of human remains from Syedra, spanning the Roman and Byzantine periods. By generating and analysing ancient genomic data, I will investigate the impact of this transition on the population dynamics, health status, and social structure of the Syedra community. By integrating archaeogenomic methods with interdisciplinary datasets and leveraging an international network of collaborations, this research will offer a comprehensive understanding of the Syedra community during the Roman-Byzantine transition. As the first study to focus on an Anatolian coastal community during this pivotal period, it will be of great importance and will also provide novel insights into the broader eastern Mediterranean. Combining my solid track record in ancient human genomics, and the host institution’s expertise in ancient DNA and metagenomics, this fellowship will enable me to develop the key skills to establish myself as a research leader in archaeogenomics and make significant contributions to the field.

Italy

2026-01-01