This study addresses the potential of palaeoentomological remains to
stand as evidence of past trade and culture contact. Three
methodological tools are used to evaluate the effectiveness of insect
subfossils as palaeoeconomic indicators: palaeoecology, biogeography,
and isotopic analysis. Underpinning each of the methodological
approaches is the premise that specific insect fauna are notably
stenotopic in their distributional range. By superimposing the
physiological and ecological habits of modern species over the
archaeological record, they may effectively serve as analogues to
interpret palaeoentomological evidence. In addition to the three applied
methodologies, the potential for palaeoentomological remains to yield
assayable genetic sequences is explored and ancient DNA recovered from
preserved Roman and medieval specimens. If aDNA preservation is
widespread in palaeoentomological remains, a phylogeographic method is
conceivable as a means for assessing past trade and migration.