Emily Chan
The latest investigation of the bones confirmed that they belonged to an adult male who was over the age of 45.
When he was alive, he consumed a diet of mostly marine and terrestrial protein sources. This differed from other Christian monks of the time, as they usually followed strict dietary rules.
Still, diet can hint toward the local traditions and religious practices. Radiocarbon dating found that death in 847 C.E. was consistent with the diet, which was during a time when evidence of marine protein sources was documented.
The studies suggested that the individual lived near the coast, which corresponded with the location of Iria Flavia.
The individual’s genetic profile differed slightly from that of modern Europeans, exhibiting a closer relationship to Roman Iberians, southern Iberian Visigoths, and Iberian Islamic populations. It matched the profile of someone living in Spain about 1,200 years ago.
The findings strongly suggest that the remains belong to Bishop Teodomiro, making him one of the oldest historical figures identified in Spain and all of Europe.
