Tours Docents offer tours most Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 pm. Check the Museum website for top... more Tours Docents offer tours most Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 pm. Check the Museum website for topics. Group discounts and docent-led tours are available for groups of 10 or more with reservations. Museum Library Open to the general public with ID. Call 215.898.4021 for information and hours. Contents FALL 2016 | VOLUME 58, NUMBER 2 6 Mummies beyond the Grave: An Introduction to Mummy Studies around the World By Janet Monge 8 Frozen Mummies of the Andes: Human Sacrifices in the Sacred Landscape of the Inca
Recent issues of Antiquity have seen much discussion on the topic of Carthaginian infant sacrific... more Recent issues of Antiquity have seen much discussion on the topic of Carthaginian infant sacrifice: was it a Graeco-Roman fiction or did it really happen? There are strongly held opinions on both sides of the argument, with much resting on the age profile of the children interred at the cemetery known as the Carthage Tophet. Here, the authors respond to claims by Smith et al. (2011, 2013) that their ageing of the infants and children was incorrect, and so also by extension was their interpretation that not all interments at the Tophet were the result of sacrifice.
The endocranial capacity of Guattari 1 originally was estimated by Sergi as approximately 1.550 c... more The endocranial capacity of Guattari 1 originally was estimated by Sergi as approximately 1.550 cm3. Using three different approaches, a physical endocast, a stereolithographic model, and a virtual endocast, we have estimated the endocranial capacity of Guattari 1 as approximately 1.350 cm3. This paper explains our revision of the estimated endocranial volume of Guattari 1, provides a cautionary case concerning other estimates of endocranial volume, and demonstrates and encourages the use of recent advances in imaging, modeling, and analysis of endocranial volume.
Cremation 168 from the second half of the 8th century BCE (Pithekoussai’s necropolis, Ischia Isla... more Cremation 168 from the second half of the 8th century BCE (Pithekoussai’s necropolis, Ischia Island, Italy), better known as the Tomb of Nestor’s Cup, is widely considered as one of the most intriguing discoveries in the Mediterranean Pre-Classic archaeology. A drinking cup, from which the Tomb’s name derives, bears one of the earliest surviving examples of written Greek, representing the oldest Homeric poetry ever recovered. According to previous osteological analyses, the Cup is associated with the cremated remains of a juvenile, aged approximately 10–14 years at death. Since then, a vast body of literature has attempted to explain the unique association between the exceptionality of the grave good complex, the symposiac and erotic evocation of the Nestor’s Cup inscription with the young age of the individual buried with it. This paper reconsiders previous assessments of the remains by combining gross morphology with qualitative histology and histomorphometric analyses of the burn...
The biological life history of infants from archaeological contexts can provide a unique insight ... more The biological life history of infants from archaeological contexts can provide a unique insight into past human populations. Dental mineralized tissues contain a permanent record of their growth that can provide access to the prenatal and early infant life, and mortality, of human skeletons. This study focuses on the histomorphometric analysis of deciduous teeth from the ‘Archaic Necropolis’ of Motya (7th–6th century BCE, Sicily–Italy). The histomorphometric analysis is conducted on prenatal and postnatal enamel of eight anterior deciduous teeth from seven individuals from this Phoenician population to estimate their chronological age-at-death, health, and enamel growth parameters. Proteomic analysis has been used to determine the sex of the infants. The presence of the Neonatal Line in all specimens indicates that the seven individuals survived birth. The occurrence of at least one Accentuated Line in prenatal enamel in four out of seven individuals suggests the foetuses and/or their mothers experienced a stress-related event during pregnancy. As expected, there was limited variation in Daily Secretion Rates near the Enamel Dentine Junction. These rates increase toward the outer enamel surface and decrease toward the cervix. Our findings illustrate the importance of dental histology for reconstructing perinatal and early infancy mortality and morbidity patterns at Motya, which sheds light on the socio-cultural perception of new-borns and infants in an ancient Phoenician community.
Lo smalto dei denti che si forma durante la vita prenatale offre la possibilita di aprire una fin... more Lo smalto dei denti che si forma durante la vita prenatale offre la possibilita di aprire una finestra unica sugli stadi precoci dello sviluppo umano nelle serie scheletriche da contesti archeologici e paleoantropologici. Infatti, i tessuti mineralizzati del dente si accrescono in maniera appositiva secondo un ritmo circadiano e registrano i tassi di crescita individuali, che possono essere direttamente misurati (Hillson 2014). Le traiettorie di crescita dei denti rispecchiano, in una certa misura, quelle dello scheletro e le informazioni derivanti dalla loro analisi possono essere estese allo studio delle traiettorie di sviluppo, anche in una prospettiva evolutiva. Inoltre, la porzione prenatale dello smalto racchiude non solo informazioni sul feto, ma anche sulla dieta e sulla salute materna nel periodo della gravidanza. L'approccio convenzionale allo studio della microstruttura dello smalto dentale e quello dell'istologia classica, un'analisi per definizione distrutti...
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 2021
Modern humans have a slow and extended period of childhood growth, but to what extent this ontoge... more Modern humans have a slow and extended period of childhood growth, but to what extent this ontogenetic pathway was present in Neanderthals is debated. Dental development, linked to the duration of somatic growth across modern primates, is the main source for information about growth and development in a variety of fossil primates, including humans. Studies of Neanderthal permanent teeth report a pace of development either similar to recent humans or relatively accelerated. Neanderthal milk teeth, which form and emerge before permanent teeth, provide an opportunity to determine which pattern was present at birth. Here we present a comparative study of the prenatal and early postnatal growth of five milk teeth from three Neanderthals (120 000–130 000 years ago) using virtual histology. Results reveal regions of their milk teeth formed quickly before birth and over a relatively short period of time after birth. Tooth emergence commenced towards the earliest end of the eruption schedule...
In this work, osteological and paleopathological analyses are combined with liquid-chromatography... more In this work, osteological and paleopathological analyses are combined with liquid-chromatography mass spectrometry to study life and death of 30 non-adult individuals from an Early Medieval Italian funerary context (Valdaro, 7 th-8 th cent AD). We estimated individual sex by exploiting sexual differences in enamel-bounded peptides. Enamel proteins were extracted through an acid etching of the whole tooth crowns for 4 samples and through a partial digestion of small enamel chunks for the remaining 26 samples. Both protocols were informative on the sex of the individuals through the identification of amelogenin isoforms (AMELX and AMELY). In addition, low-mineralized tooth germs were analysed and they provided reliable information on the infants' sex. We observed the presence of 13 males and 17 females among the non-adults of Valdaro, not significantly different from a random sample with an equal frequency of males and females. Cribra cranii and endocranial lesion occurrence showed an association with sex, with higher frequencies in male individuals.
Here we present a comparative study of stable carbon (δ 13 C) and nitrogen (δ 15 N) isotope data ... more Here we present a comparative study of stable carbon (δ 13 C) and nitrogen (δ 15 N) isotope data from 81 individuals from the catastrophic death assemblage at Herculaneum (79 AD) and compare these with the attritional sites of Velia (Salerno, Italy, 1 st-2 nd century AD) and Isola Sacra (Rome, Italy, 1 st-2 nd century AD). The instantaneous deposition of the Herculaneum assemblage highlights some interesting differences in our contextual and methodological understanding of stable dietary isotopes, suggesting that isotopic variation between sites may sometimes be a result of greater temporal variability rather than truly comparable differences. Our results suggest that the people of Herculaneum obtained a relatively small proportion (ca. 30%) of their dietary carbon from marine foods; the majority originating from terrestrial foodstuffs of a similar carbon isotopic composition, most likely cereals. Also observed is a generally greater dietary isotopic enrichment in male individuals than females. We infer that males had greater access to fish which may be reflective, in part, of the sociodemographic framework characteristic of Roman society. Finally, we highlight the methodological challenges which may be faced when undertaking comparisons of δ 13 C and δ 15 N data between the various age-related strata of a population, particularly due to the slow and variable rate of collagen turnover.
The evolution of modern human reproductive scheduling is an aspect of our life history that remai... more The evolution of modern human reproductive scheduling is an aspect of our life history that remains vastly uncomprehended. The present work aims to address this gap by validating a non-destructive cutting-edge methodology to infer adult life-history events on modern teeth with known life history and then applying it to fossil specimens. We use phase-contrast synchrotron X-ray microtomography to visualize the dental cementum of 21 specimens: nine contemporary humans; 10 Neanderthals from Krapina (Croatia, 130–120 kyr); one NeolithicHomo sapiensfrom Ajmana (Serbia); and one MesolithicH. sapiensfrom Vlasac (Serbia). We were able to correctly detect and time (root mean square error = 2.1 years;R2= 0.98) all reproductive (menarche, parturition, menopause) and other physiologically impactful events in the modern sample. Nonetheless, we could not distinguish between the causes of the events detected. For the fossil specimens, we estimated age at death and age at occurrence of biologically ...
We present the results of a multi-disciplinary investigation on a deciduous human tooth (Pradis 1... more We present the results of a multi-disciplinary investigation on a deciduous human tooth (Pradis 1), recently recovered from the Epigravettian layers of the Grotte di Pradis archaeological site (Northeastern Italian Prealps). Pradis 1 is an exfoliated deciduous molar (Rdm2), lost during life by an 11–12-year-old child. A direct radiocarbon date provided an age of 13,088–12,897 cal BP (95% probability, IntCal20). Amelogenin peptides extracted from tooth enamel and analysed through LC–MS/MS indicate that Pradis 1 likely belonged to a male. Time-resolved 87Sr/86Sr analyses by laser ablation mass spectrometry (LA-MC-ICPMS), combined with dental histology, were able to resolve his movements during the first year of life (i.e. the enamel mineralization interval). Specifically, the Sr isotope ratio of the tooth enamel differs from the local baseline value, suggesting that the child likely spent his first year of life far from Grotte di Pradis. Sr isotopes are also suggestive of a cyclical/s...
The evolution and development of human mortuary behaviors is of enormous cultural significance. H... more The evolution and development of human mortuary behaviors is of enormous cultural significance. Here we report a richly-decorated young infant burial (AVH-1) from Arma Veirana (Liguria, northwestern Italy) that is directly dated to 10,211–9910 cal BP (95.4% probability), placing it within the early Holocene and therefore attributable to the early Mesolithic, a cultural period from which well-documented burials are exceedingly rare. Virtual dental histology, proteomics, and aDNA indicate that the infant was a 40–50 days old female. Associated artifacts indicate significant material and emotional investment in the child’s interment. The detailed biological profile of AVH-1 establishes the child as the earliest European near-neonate documented to be female. The Arma Veirana burial thus provides insight into sex/gender-based social status, funerary treatment, and the attribution of personhood to the youngest individuals among prehistoric hunter-gatherer groups and adds substantially to ...
The historical and archaeological record identifies Pithekoussai (island of Ischia, Italy, VIII c... more The historical and archaeological record identifies Pithekoussai (island of Ischia, Italy, VIII cent. BCE-III cent. CE) as the first Greek settlement in Italy (Strabo Geographia V-4-9), afterwards followed by more extensive Greek migrations characterizing the rise of Magna Grecia. The most striking evidence is the so-called Coppa di Nestore, which exhibits the most ancient Greek Euboean inscription so far known. The Pithekoussai's graveyard yielded more than 900 graves, both inhumations and cremations. The funerary record suggests a complex settlement history where Greek and Phoenician immigrants interacted with the local population. The peculiarity of the grave goods and the diverse treatment of the bodies are possibly referable to the origin and/or the social status of the deceased. The aim of this study is to test the multi-ethnicity of Pithekoussai's community through the anthropological and isotopic analysis, mainly by the 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratio analysis performed on dental enamel (inhumated individuals) and the pars petrosa of the temporal bone (cremated and inhumated individuals). Fifty individuals, from the so-called Pithekoussai II series, have been analysed so far. The 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratio isotopic signal in the human mineralized tissues was compared to the local isotopic ratios derived from the analysis a. of the enamel of small modern mammals; b. of modern grass samples; and from the local volcanic bedrock signal known in literature (D'Antonio et al., 2012). Results confirm the presence of individuals born elsewhere (~ 22%), all adults, reinforcing the idea that Pithekoussai was a multi-ethnic community.
Tours Docents offer tours most Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 pm. Check the Museum website for top... more Tours Docents offer tours most Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 pm. Check the Museum website for topics. Group discounts and docent-led tours are available for groups of 10 or more with reservations. Museum Library Open to the general public with ID. Call 215.898.4021 for information and hours. Contents FALL 2016 | VOLUME 58, NUMBER 2 6 Mummies beyond the Grave: An Introduction to Mummy Studies around the World By Janet Monge 8 Frozen Mummies of the Andes: Human Sacrifices in the Sacred Landscape of the Inca
Recent issues of Antiquity have seen much discussion on the topic of Carthaginian infant sacrific... more Recent issues of Antiquity have seen much discussion on the topic of Carthaginian infant sacrifice: was it a Graeco-Roman fiction or did it really happen? There are strongly held opinions on both sides of the argument, with much resting on the age profile of the children interred at the cemetery known as the Carthage Tophet. Here, the authors respond to claims by Smith et al. (2011, 2013) that their ageing of the infants and children was incorrect, and so also by extension was their interpretation that not all interments at the Tophet were the result of sacrifice.
The endocranial capacity of Guattari 1 originally was estimated by Sergi as approximately 1.550 c... more The endocranial capacity of Guattari 1 originally was estimated by Sergi as approximately 1.550 cm3. Using three different approaches, a physical endocast, a stereolithographic model, and a virtual endocast, we have estimated the endocranial capacity of Guattari 1 as approximately 1.350 cm3. This paper explains our revision of the estimated endocranial volume of Guattari 1, provides a cautionary case concerning other estimates of endocranial volume, and demonstrates and encourages the use of recent advances in imaging, modeling, and analysis of endocranial volume.
Cremation 168 from the second half of the 8th century BCE (Pithekoussai’s necropolis, Ischia Isla... more Cremation 168 from the second half of the 8th century BCE (Pithekoussai’s necropolis, Ischia Island, Italy), better known as the Tomb of Nestor’s Cup, is widely considered as one of the most intriguing discoveries in the Mediterranean Pre-Classic archaeology. A drinking cup, from which the Tomb’s name derives, bears one of the earliest surviving examples of written Greek, representing the oldest Homeric poetry ever recovered. According to previous osteological analyses, the Cup is associated with the cremated remains of a juvenile, aged approximately 10–14 years at death. Since then, a vast body of literature has attempted to explain the unique association between the exceptionality of the grave good complex, the symposiac and erotic evocation of the Nestor’s Cup inscription with the young age of the individual buried with it. This paper reconsiders previous assessments of the remains by combining gross morphology with qualitative histology and histomorphometric analyses of the burn...
The biological life history of infants from archaeological contexts can provide a unique insight ... more The biological life history of infants from archaeological contexts can provide a unique insight into past human populations. Dental mineralized tissues contain a permanent record of their growth that can provide access to the prenatal and early infant life, and mortality, of human skeletons. This study focuses on the histomorphometric analysis of deciduous teeth from the ‘Archaic Necropolis’ of Motya (7th–6th century BCE, Sicily–Italy). The histomorphometric analysis is conducted on prenatal and postnatal enamel of eight anterior deciduous teeth from seven individuals from this Phoenician population to estimate their chronological age-at-death, health, and enamel growth parameters. Proteomic analysis has been used to determine the sex of the infants. The presence of the Neonatal Line in all specimens indicates that the seven individuals survived birth. The occurrence of at least one Accentuated Line in prenatal enamel in four out of seven individuals suggests the foetuses and/or their mothers experienced a stress-related event during pregnancy. As expected, there was limited variation in Daily Secretion Rates near the Enamel Dentine Junction. These rates increase toward the outer enamel surface and decrease toward the cervix. Our findings illustrate the importance of dental histology for reconstructing perinatal and early infancy mortality and morbidity patterns at Motya, which sheds light on the socio-cultural perception of new-borns and infants in an ancient Phoenician community.
Lo smalto dei denti che si forma durante la vita prenatale offre la possibilita di aprire una fin... more Lo smalto dei denti che si forma durante la vita prenatale offre la possibilita di aprire una finestra unica sugli stadi precoci dello sviluppo umano nelle serie scheletriche da contesti archeologici e paleoantropologici. Infatti, i tessuti mineralizzati del dente si accrescono in maniera appositiva secondo un ritmo circadiano e registrano i tassi di crescita individuali, che possono essere direttamente misurati (Hillson 2014). Le traiettorie di crescita dei denti rispecchiano, in una certa misura, quelle dello scheletro e le informazioni derivanti dalla loro analisi possono essere estese allo studio delle traiettorie di sviluppo, anche in una prospettiva evolutiva. Inoltre, la porzione prenatale dello smalto racchiude non solo informazioni sul feto, ma anche sulla dieta e sulla salute materna nel periodo della gravidanza. L'approccio convenzionale allo studio della microstruttura dello smalto dentale e quello dell'istologia classica, un'analisi per definizione distrutti...
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 2021
Modern humans have a slow and extended period of childhood growth, but to what extent this ontoge... more Modern humans have a slow and extended period of childhood growth, but to what extent this ontogenetic pathway was present in Neanderthals is debated. Dental development, linked to the duration of somatic growth across modern primates, is the main source for information about growth and development in a variety of fossil primates, including humans. Studies of Neanderthal permanent teeth report a pace of development either similar to recent humans or relatively accelerated. Neanderthal milk teeth, which form and emerge before permanent teeth, provide an opportunity to determine which pattern was present at birth. Here we present a comparative study of the prenatal and early postnatal growth of five milk teeth from three Neanderthals (120 000–130 000 years ago) using virtual histology. Results reveal regions of their milk teeth formed quickly before birth and over a relatively short period of time after birth. Tooth emergence commenced towards the earliest end of the eruption schedule...
In this work, osteological and paleopathological analyses are combined with liquid-chromatography... more In this work, osteological and paleopathological analyses are combined with liquid-chromatography mass spectrometry to study life and death of 30 non-adult individuals from an Early Medieval Italian funerary context (Valdaro, 7 th-8 th cent AD). We estimated individual sex by exploiting sexual differences in enamel-bounded peptides. Enamel proteins were extracted through an acid etching of the whole tooth crowns for 4 samples and through a partial digestion of small enamel chunks for the remaining 26 samples. Both protocols were informative on the sex of the individuals through the identification of amelogenin isoforms (AMELX and AMELY). In addition, low-mineralized tooth germs were analysed and they provided reliable information on the infants' sex. We observed the presence of 13 males and 17 females among the non-adults of Valdaro, not significantly different from a random sample with an equal frequency of males and females. Cribra cranii and endocranial lesion occurrence showed an association with sex, with higher frequencies in male individuals.
Here we present a comparative study of stable carbon (δ 13 C) and nitrogen (δ 15 N) isotope data ... more Here we present a comparative study of stable carbon (δ 13 C) and nitrogen (δ 15 N) isotope data from 81 individuals from the catastrophic death assemblage at Herculaneum (79 AD) and compare these with the attritional sites of Velia (Salerno, Italy, 1 st-2 nd century AD) and Isola Sacra (Rome, Italy, 1 st-2 nd century AD). The instantaneous deposition of the Herculaneum assemblage highlights some interesting differences in our contextual and methodological understanding of stable dietary isotopes, suggesting that isotopic variation between sites may sometimes be a result of greater temporal variability rather than truly comparable differences. Our results suggest that the people of Herculaneum obtained a relatively small proportion (ca. 30%) of their dietary carbon from marine foods; the majority originating from terrestrial foodstuffs of a similar carbon isotopic composition, most likely cereals. Also observed is a generally greater dietary isotopic enrichment in male individuals than females. We infer that males had greater access to fish which may be reflective, in part, of the sociodemographic framework characteristic of Roman society. Finally, we highlight the methodological challenges which may be faced when undertaking comparisons of δ 13 C and δ 15 N data between the various age-related strata of a population, particularly due to the slow and variable rate of collagen turnover.
The evolution of modern human reproductive scheduling is an aspect of our life history that remai... more The evolution of modern human reproductive scheduling is an aspect of our life history that remains vastly uncomprehended. The present work aims to address this gap by validating a non-destructive cutting-edge methodology to infer adult life-history events on modern teeth with known life history and then applying it to fossil specimens. We use phase-contrast synchrotron X-ray microtomography to visualize the dental cementum of 21 specimens: nine contemporary humans; 10 Neanderthals from Krapina (Croatia, 130–120 kyr); one NeolithicHomo sapiensfrom Ajmana (Serbia); and one MesolithicH. sapiensfrom Vlasac (Serbia). We were able to correctly detect and time (root mean square error = 2.1 years;R2= 0.98) all reproductive (menarche, parturition, menopause) and other physiologically impactful events in the modern sample. Nonetheless, we could not distinguish between the causes of the events detected. For the fossil specimens, we estimated age at death and age at occurrence of biologically ...
We present the results of a multi-disciplinary investigation on a deciduous human tooth (Pradis 1... more We present the results of a multi-disciplinary investigation on a deciduous human tooth (Pradis 1), recently recovered from the Epigravettian layers of the Grotte di Pradis archaeological site (Northeastern Italian Prealps). Pradis 1 is an exfoliated deciduous molar (Rdm2), lost during life by an 11–12-year-old child. A direct radiocarbon date provided an age of 13,088–12,897 cal BP (95% probability, IntCal20). Amelogenin peptides extracted from tooth enamel and analysed through LC–MS/MS indicate that Pradis 1 likely belonged to a male. Time-resolved 87Sr/86Sr analyses by laser ablation mass spectrometry (LA-MC-ICPMS), combined with dental histology, were able to resolve his movements during the first year of life (i.e. the enamel mineralization interval). Specifically, the Sr isotope ratio of the tooth enamel differs from the local baseline value, suggesting that the child likely spent his first year of life far from Grotte di Pradis. Sr isotopes are also suggestive of a cyclical/s...
The evolution and development of human mortuary behaviors is of enormous cultural significance. H... more The evolution and development of human mortuary behaviors is of enormous cultural significance. Here we report a richly-decorated young infant burial (AVH-1) from Arma Veirana (Liguria, northwestern Italy) that is directly dated to 10,211–9910 cal BP (95.4% probability), placing it within the early Holocene and therefore attributable to the early Mesolithic, a cultural period from which well-documented burials are exceedingly rare. Virtual dental histology, proteomics, and aDNA indicate that the infant was a 40–50 days old female. Associated artifacts indicate significant material and emotional investment in the child’s interment. The detailed biological profile of AVH-1 establishes the child as the earliest European near-neonate documented to be female. The Arma Veirana burial thus provides insight into sex/gender-based social status, funerary treatment, and the attribution of personhood to the youngest individuals among prehistoric hunter-gatherer groups and adds substantially to ...
The historical and archaeological record identifies Pithekoussai (island of Ischia, Italy, VIII c... more The historical and archaeological record identifies Pithekoussai (island of Ischia, Italy, VIII cent. BCE-III cent. CE) as the first Greek settlement in Italy (Strabo Geographia V-4-9), afterwards followed by more extensive Greek migrations characterizing the rise of Magna Grecia. The most striking evidence is the so-called Coppa di Nestore, which exhibits the most ancient Greek Euboean inscription so far known. The Pithekoussai's graveyard yielded more than 900 graves, both inhumations and cremations. The funerary record suggests a complex settlement history where Greek and Phoenician immigrants interacted with the local population. The peculiarity of the grave goods and the diverse treatment of the bodies are possibly referable to the origin and/or the social status of the deceased. The aim of this study is to test the multi-ethnicity of Pithekoussai's community through the anthropological and isotopic analysis, mainly by the 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratio analysis performed on dental enamel (inhumated individuals) and the pars petrosa of the temporal bone (cremated and inhumated individuals). Fifty individuals, from the so-called Pithekoussai II series, have been analysed so far. The 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratio isotopic signal in the human mineralized tissues was compared to the local isotopic ratios derived from the analysis a. of the enamel of small modern mammals; b. of modern grass samples; and from the local volcanic bedrock signal known in literature (D'Antonio et al., 2012). Results confirm the presence of individuals born elsewhere (~ 22%), all adults, reinforcing the idea that Pithekoussai was a multi-ethnic community.
Paleodemographic studies aim at modelling past populations structure, size and biological dynamic... more Paleodemographic studies aim at modelling past populations structure, size and biological dynamics from ancient cemeteries. As fully recognized and debated, this discipline faces several practical and theoretical issues; one of the most challenging aspects is the invisibility, the paucity or - more rarely - the hypervisibility of infants and children in the burial grounds. In fact, these frequent deviations from the expected mortality pattern for ancient pre-antibiotic populations strongly undermines the credibility of our paleodemographic estimates. Nevertheless, if addressed within a highly integrated approach of analysis, these evidences have the potential to disclose specific events and/or funerary practices, as possible reflection of social age definition and children personhood in ancient communities. Some relevant examples from Italy will be presented: the issue of children representation among the terramare bronze age necropolises; the changing patterns of infants funerary rituals in Pontecagnano and Pithecusa (Iron age necropoleis, Campania); the comparison among Roman Imperial Age necropolises (Latium and Campania); the late antiquity anomalous burials of perinates in Peltuinum (Abruzzi); the presence of children in the late antiquity Santa Mustiola catacomb (Tuscany). These contexts are currently under study by an interdisciplinary approach combining historical and archaeological evidences with data on children mortality and morbidity.
A sample of human deciduous teeth from the Roman Imperial necropolis of Velia (I-II cent. CE) was... more A sample of human deciduous teeth from the Roman Imperial necropolis of Velia (I-II cent. CE) was measured by high-resolution, phase-contrast synchrotron X-ray microtomography at the SYRMEP beamline of the Elettra laboratory. Results show the suitability and potential of the setup available at SYRMEP in paleo-ontogenetic studies on tooth enamel, through visualization of the growth markers in the mineralized tissue.
This study highlights the merit of combining macro- and microscopic analysis in a systematic surv... more This study highlights the merit of combining macro- and microscopic analysis in a systematic survey of non-occlusal tooth wear.
Intense community dynamics in the pre-Roman frontier site of Fermo (ninth–fifth century BCE, Marche, central Italy) inferred from isotopic data , 2023
The Early Iron Age in Italy (end of the tenth to the eighth century BCE) was characterized by pro... more The Early Iron Age in Italy (end of the tenth to the eighth century BCE) was characterized by profound changes which influenced the subsequent political and cultural scenario in the peninsula. At the end of this period people from the eastern Mediterranean (e.g. Phoenicians and Greek people) settled along the Italian, Sardinian and Sicilian coasts. Among local populations, the so-called Villanovan culture group—mainly located on the Tyrrhenian side of central Italy and in the southern Po plain—stood out since the beginning for the extent of their geographical expansion across the peninsula and their leading position in the interaction with diverse groups. The community of Fermo (ninth–fifth century BCE), related to the Villanovan groups but located in the Picene area (Marche), is a model example of these population dynamics. This study integrates archaeological, osteological, carbon (δ13C), nitrogen (δ15N) (n = 25 human) and strontium (87Sr/86Sr) isotope data (n = 54 human, n = 11 baseline samples) to explore human mobility through Fermo funerary contexts. The combination of these different sources enabled us to confirm the presence of non-local individuals and gain insight into community connectivity dynamics in Early Iron Age Italian frontier sites. This research contributes to one of the leading historical questions of Italian development in the first millennium BCE.
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Papers by Luca Bondioli
In fact, these frequent deviations from the expected mortality pattern for ancient pre-antibiotic populations strongly undermines the credibility of our paleodemographic estimates. Nevertheless, if addressed within a highly integrated approach of analysis, these evidences have the potential to disclose specific events and/or funerary practices, as possible reflection of social age definition and children personhood in ancient communities.
Some relevant examples from Italy will be presented: the issue of children representation among the terramare bronze age necropolises; the changing patterns of infants funerary rituals in Pontecagnano and Pithecusa (Iron age necropoleis, Campania); the comparison among Roman Imperial Age necropolises (Latium and Campania); the late antiquity anomalous burials of perinates in Peltuinum (Abruzzi); the presence of children in the late antiquity Santa Mustiola catacomb (Tuscany). These contexts are currently under study by an interdisciplinary approach combining historical and archaeological evidences with data on children mortality and morbidity.