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The wide diversity of Neolithic funerary practices is increasingly recognised. In Southeast Italy, recent studies have drawn attention to the co-existence of multiple ways of treating the dead within single sites and across the region. In this study, we address how such diverse deathways form a regional framework of ritual practice through histotaphonomic analysis of bone bioerosion. Samples were obtained from articulated, semi-articulated and disarticulated remains from four sites in Apulia which each presented different modes of treatment and disposal of the dead. Bone thin sections were analysed by light microscopy to characterise microstructural preservation through features including bacterial bioerosion, staining, inclusions, and Wedl tunnelling. We investigate the early post-mortem histories of individuals whose remains ended up in various states of dis/articulation and diverse depositional contexts. Disarticulated remains frequently displayed arrested or extensive bacterial bioerosion, which was also found in articulated and semi-articulated skeletons. Additionally, remains deposited in similar contexts, as well as articulated and disarticulated remains deposited together in the same context, often showed different histotaphonomic characteristics, suggesting diverse early post-mortem trajectories. As a result, we argue that Neolithic deathways in southeastern Italy incorporated a high level of diversity in the early post-mortem treatment of the body. A framework for funerary practices emerges, whereby disarticulated remains probably originated from bodies which had been buried previously and subjected to varying extents of shelter, exposure to invertebrates, and duration of burial. However, we acknowledge the ongoing research into the origins of bacterial bioerosion and the problem of equifinality, which leaves open the possibility for further scenarios of early post-mortem treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present Isotòpia, an open-access database compiling over 36,000 stable isotope measurements (δ13C, δ15N, δ18O, δ34S, 87Sr/86Sr, 206Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb, 208Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/206Pb, and 208Pb/206Pb) on human, animal, and plant bioarchaeological remains dating to Classical Antiquity (approximately 800 BCE ‐ 500 CE). These were recovered from different European regions, particularly from the Mediterranean. Isotòpia provides a comprehensive characterisation of the isotopic data, encompassing various historical, archaeological, biological, and environmental variables. Isotòpia is a resource for meta-analytical research of past human activities and paleoenvironments. The database highlights data gaps in isotopic classical archaeology, such as the limited number of isotopic measurements available for plants and animals, limited number of studies on spatial mobility, and spatial heterogeneity of isotopic research. As such, we emphasise the necessity to address and fill these gaps in order to unlock the reuse potential of this database. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detailed taphonomic and skeletal analyses document the diverse and often unusual burial practices employed by European Neolithic populations. In the Upper Chamber at Scaloria Cave in southern Italy, the remains of some two dozen individuals had been subjected to careful and systematic defleshing and disarticulation involving cutting and scraping with stone tools, which had left their marks on the bones. In some cases these were not complete bodies but parts of bodies that had been brought to the cave from the surrounding area. The fragmented and commingled burial layer that resulted from these activities indicates complex secondary burial rites effecting the transition from entirely living to entirely dead individuals. Keywords: Middle Neolithic, mortuary rites, defleshing, cut-marks, collective burial, secondary burial, cave burial, Introduction Death rituals can be about many things: advertising the status of the deceased, forging political relations, fending off the vengeful dead, and many other social tasks. A fundamental job, [...]

The Longobard necropolis of Castel Trosino dates from the 6th to the 8th century CE. Among the tombs excavated, the skull of an older female shows the first evidence of a cross‐shaped bone modification on a living subject. Macroscopic, microscopic, and CT scan analyses revealed signs of at least two sets of scraping marks. Specifically, SEM analysis shows that perimortem bone‐scraping traces are present on the skull. Both healed and non‐healed defects suggest that the woman has received at least twice intentional bone modifications to address her condition. This is the first evidence of a cross‐shaped therapeutic intervention on a living subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This exploratory study proposes an original intra‐life history investigation through sequential analysis of the isotopic composition of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur (CNS) on both primary and secondary dentin of a tooth (M1). We focus on an elderly woman from Longobard Italy (6th to 8th c. CE), who showed an unprecedented case of cranial surgery, presented in a companion paper by Micarelli and colleagues. Sequential stable CNS isotope composition of first molar dentin collagen allows us to infer diet, mobility, health, and physiological stress between approximately 3 months after birth to 9.5 years old (primary dentin) and between early adulthood until death (secondary dentin). Isotopic results on primary dentin highlight the following: (i) a long weaning period (ending at approximately 4 years), followed by (ii) a specific diet, including the contribution of C4 crops in early childhood (approximately 5.5 years), possibly concomitant with mobility. While secondary dentin shows a generally homogeneous diet during adulthood, the longitudinal analysis provided information on specific stresses that likely occurred in periods of difficult health conditions. This work emphasizes the importance of measuring complete dentin sequences (including secondary when present) for isotopic analysis to broaden intra‐life histories in ancient populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bones offer a great amount of information on ancient populations regarding both their lifestyle habits and the influence of the living area. Bones are composed by an inorganic component, i.e., carbonated hydroxyapatite (Ca10[(PO4)6−x(CO3)x](OH)2), and an organic matrix (mainly proteins and collagen). After death, bones are subjected to diagenetic processes, with changes in structure, morphology, and chemical composition. All these modifications strictly depend on several factors, including the nearby environment, the climate, and the burial modality. Hence, a precise knowledge of the diagenetic processes affecting bones after death is mandatory. In this study, archeological human bones from the Garamantian necropolis of Fewet (Libyan Sahara) were analyzed by ATR–FTIR spectroscopy to elucidate the role of the burial location and modality, as well as the highly arid environment in the diagenesis rate. Several spectral parameters related to structural and chemical features of the organic and mineral components (i.e., AmideI/PO4, C/P, MM, FWHM603, and IRSF indexes) were statistically analyzed. Spectral data were compared with those from modern ruminants from the same site to evaluate a possible time-dependent correlation between the chemical composition and the diagenetic processes. A mild diagenesis was found in all human bones, even though it had a variable degree depending on the burial location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis was carried out on human and animal bones from four inland Early and Middle Bronze Age sites in Northern and Southern Italy. The main aims of the investigation were to explore the contribution of plant foods to the human diet and to examine any dietary differences between and within each of the sites. At two of the sites in Northern Italy, human and animal bones were significantly enriched in [sup.13]C. This finding was attributed to the consumption of domestic millets (Panicum miliaceum and/or Setaria italica), which are [C.sub.4] pathway plants. Conversely, individuals from the two Bronze Age sites in Southern Italy were significantly depleted in [sup.13]C compared to those from the north. Here, millet was absent from the diet, and protein from [C.sub.3] plants made a much greater dietary contribution than animal protein. This finding highlights the importance of cereal cultivation, most likely of wheat and barley, in the south of Italy during the Bronze Age. Overall, our results support the idea that the widespread cultivation of millet first occurred in Northern Italy, following its introduction from across the Alps in Central Europe. Finally, we found no significant differences in the stable isotope values between individuals at each site, when grouped by their sex or presence of grave goods. This leads to the conclusion that any status difference that may have existed is not reflected in the long-term dietary record, or at least not as measurable by stable isotope analysis. KEY WORDS prehistoric diet; stable isotopes; millet; Bronze Age; Italy

Copyright of Conservation Science in Cultural Heritage / Quaderni di Scienza della Conservazione is the property of Salvatore Lorusso and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The remains that typically compose the human fossil record often bear cracks, damage, and deformations. The recent rapid development of 'virtual anthropology' has provided innovative tools to manage, study, and preserve cultural and natural heritage. Such tools include computerized tomography (CT), laser scanning, photogrammetry, 3D imaging, and rapid prototyping. These approaches can contribute to any archaeological context from the discovery of artefacts to research, preservation, and dissemination. 3D imaging techniques can substitute physical intervention with a virtual protocol to restore the original shape of a fossil specimen. In a similar way, digital morphological information can be recovered using data preserved even on a fragment through the use of 3D comparative samples. Here we present an extended and updated review of the most innovative protocols in virtual anthropology, also applicable in other fields such as natural history and cultural heritage studies, through the description of recent cast studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract An examination of an adult male buried from the post-classical necropolis of La Selvicciola (Viterbo, Latium, Italy; 4th–6th centuries AD) revealed a series of skeletal lesions. The lesions, both proliferative and lytic, ranging in size from small (around 0.01 mm) to extensive (up to 16.00 mm) pits, occurred at multiple sites. A holistic approach assessed lesion type, frequency and location in a differential diagnosis, which included myeloma, metastatic carcinoma, tuberculosis, leukemia, osteomyelitis, and mycoses. It was concluded that a mycosis, specifically Cryptococcosis , was the most likely cause of these lesions. Both macroscopic analyses and X-ray scans support our diagnosis. We also provide a methodological scheme as a model for examining unknown lesion patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The native groups of Patagonia have relied on a hunter-gatherer economy well after the first Europeans and North Americans reached this part of the world. The large exploitation of marine mammals (i.e., seals) by such allochthonous groups has had a strong impact on the local ecology in a way that might have forced the natives to adjust their subsistence strategies. Similarly, the introduction of new foods might have changed local diet. These are the premises of our isotopic-based analysis. There is a large set of paleonutritional investigations through isotopic analysis on Fuegians groups, however a systematic exploration of food practices across time in relation to possible pre- and post-contact changes is still lacking. In this paper we investigate dietary variation in hunter-gatherer groups of Tierra del Fuego in a diachronic perspective, through measuring the isotopic ratio of carbon (∂13C) and nitrogen (∂15N) in the bone collagen of human and a selection of terrestrial and marine animal samples. The data obtained reveal an unexpected isotopic uniformity across prehistoric and recent groups, with little variation in both carbon and nitrogen mean values, which we interpret as the possible evidence of resilience among these groups and persistence of subsistence strategies, allowing inferences on the dramatic contraction (and extinction) of Fuegian populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caring practices provided to diseased individuals in past populations are of interest in bioarchaeology, with increasing literature describing community effort in the provision of care. The skeletal series from the Late Antique/Early Medieval cemetery of Selvicciola (Latium, Italy), included an elderly woman who revealed heterotopic ossification and ankylosis of the left hip. The extensive bone remodelling deformed the acetabulum, locking the femoral head within the joint. This caused a reduction in abduction/adduction movement of the leg and extended eburnation on the joint surfaces of the knees. The cervical vertebrae, the only preserved, were affected by severe osteoarthritis. The presence of large osteophytes on the bodies of the first five vertebrae were indicative of acute pain and a likely reduction in movement. To assess the effect of ankylosis of the left hip and related mobility, we applied morphometric maps of cortical thickness to both tibia and femur. Diet reconstruction by stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes analysis reveals a protein intake coherent with that of the other individuals analyzed from the Selvicciola necropolis (n=33). Our investigation suggests that for several years this woman had difficulty moving, and a progressive worsening of her condition resulted in her becoming highly dependent on other people. Her condition could not heal, nor a cure could be provided, nonetheless the community took care of her. The combination of paleopathological, bioarchaeological and historical data allowed us to reconstruct an osteobiography of this elderly woman, which speaks of health care as a significant part of community life in the past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case of trepanation has been documented on a cranium from the Longobard cemetery of Castel Trosino (central Italy, 6th-8th centuries CE). The cranium represents the only remains of an elderly woman (ca. 50yo), and the medical treatment, or the condition that led to it, likely influenced her life course. In this study we have attempted to reconstruct her life-history via multi stable isotope analysis on different tissues. This will assist in reconstructing variations in the nutritional intake and has the potential to highlight physiological stresses during specific time intervals. The isotopic values of the latter years of her life are consistent with those of other adults from the cemetery (n=18). Her life conditions and the level of healthcare will be presented via paleopathological and isotopic analyses, supported by the archaeological context and the medical literature. Our analysis suggests that the community members cared for this woman, at least by providing her with a consistent food intake. This sheds light on two possible, non-mutually alternative, scenarios: a) she had a privileged social status that favored such treatments; b) the care for individuals with severe ailments was likely a practice included in the community habits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of archaeological human remains allows us to dive deeply into the lifestyle of past populations. When applied to the Roman Empire, it can shed light on the life of a part of the population that was not reported by classical literary sources. In particular, slaves played a fundamental role in the Roman Empire, both in the city of Rome and in outer villages. Our study focuses on the necropolis outside the village of Lucus Feroniae (I-III century CE). From the archaeological record we know that the village was inhabited by local people, war veterans and liberti (freed slaves). Combining macroscopic examinations and radiographic analyses of a subsample of individuals from this necropolis, we were able to identify an adult male with signs, on the skull and postcranial bones, indicative of a harsh life. These are features that, in the literature, are normally associated with a low social status. To explore the life history of this individual we coupled the skeletal evidence with an isotopic study, as to infer the origin of this man and his possible role within the community. Hence, we measured the strontium isotope ratio in the enamel of the second molar to study his geographical origin. The integration of isotopic, skeletal, and archaeological data helps to reconstruct the osteobiography of this man, providing an insight into the life of the lower class in Imperial Rome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Middle Pastoral human remains from Wadi Takarkori in the Libyan Acacus mountains (Fezzan) are exceptionally preserved partial mummies ranging between 6100 and 5000 uncal years BP; this small sample represents the most ancient of its kind ever found. In this report, we present a survey of the skeletal anatomy of these mummified corpses, based on high resolution CT-scan data, including a preliminary phenetic interpretation of their cranial morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cattle pastoralism is an important trait of African cultures. Ethnographic studies describe the central role played by domestic cattle within many societies, highlighting its social and ideological value well beyond its mere function as ‘walking larder’. Historical depth of this African legacy has been repeatedly assessed in an archaeological perspective, mostly emphasizing a continental vision. Nevertheless, in-depth site-specific studies, with a few exceptions, are lacking. Despite the long tradition of a multi-disciplinary approach to the analysis of pastoral systems in Africa, rarely do early and middle Holocene archaeological contexts feature in the same area the combination of settlement, ceremonial and rock art features so as to be multi-dimensionally explored: the Messak plateau in the Libyan central Sahara represents an outstanding exception. Known for its rich Pleistocene occupation and abundant Holocene rock art, the region, through our research, has also shown to preserve the material evidence of a complex ritual dated to the Middle Pastoral (6080–5120 BP or 5200–3800 BC). This was centred on the frequent deposition in stone monuments of disarticulated animal remains, mostly cattle. Animal burials are known also from other African contexts, but regional extent of the phenomenon, state of preservation of monuments, and associated rock art make the Messak case unique. GIS analysis, excavation data, radiocarbon dating, zooarchaeological and isotopic (Sr, C, O) analyses of animal remains, and botanical information are used to explore this highly formalized ritual and the lifeways of a pastoral community in the Holocene Sahara. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Archaeology is the property of Cambridge University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Stable isotope analysis of archaeological bones can be used to reconstruct an individual's long-term dietary record. This emerging technique is particularly suited for distinguishing marine from terrestrial consumers and has been extensively applied to historic and prehistoric coastal populations from Northern and Western Europe. Surprisingly little attention has been given to Mediterranean populations. Here we review the work that has been done in the Mediterranean and suggest the course of future studies in this area. From the limited amount of data available we tentatively conclude that there is very little isotopic evidence for heavy marine consumption at all in the Mediterranean record. However, more extensive isotope surveys of marine fauna need to be conducted before this finding can be substantiated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The arrival of the Longobards in Italy represents one of the most significant periods of the Early Middle Ages. Such arrival had social and political implications, particularly in relation to cultural admixture with local communities. One way to understand this is through the reconstruction of paleodiet via stable isotope analysis. So far, the subsistence strategy of this population in central Italy remains poorly explored. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses are presented here on a total of 19 human bone collagen samples from the cemetery of Castel Trosino. This isotopic investigation contributes to the dietary reconstruction of Early Medieval populations in Italy, providing a crucial isotopic dataset for an area still poorly explored., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships which have or could be perceived to have influenced the work reported in this article., (© 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

The Longobard necropolis of Povegliano Veronese dates from the 6th to the 8th centuries AD. Among the 164 tombs excavated, the skeleton of an older male shows a well-healed amputated right forearm. The orientation of the forearm fracture suggests an angled cut by a single blow. Reasons why a forearm might be amputated include combat, medical intervention, and judicial punishment. As with other amputation cases reported in literature, this one exhibits both healing and osteoblastic response. We argue that the forelimb stump morphology suggests the use of a prosthesis. Moreover, dental modification of RI2 shows considerable wear and smoothing of the occlusal surface, which points to dental use in attaching the prosthesis to the limb. Other indications of how this individual adjusted to his amputated condition includes a slight change in the orientation of the right glenoid fossa surface, and thinning of right humeral cortical bone. This is a remarkable example in which an older male survived the loss of a forelimb in pre-antibiotic era. We link archaeological remains found in the tomb (buckle and knife) with the biological evidence to show how a combined bioarchaeological approach can provide a clearer interpretation of the life history of an individual.