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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]

Complete Neanderthal skeletons are almost unique findings. A very well-preserved specimen of this kind was discovered in 1993 in the deepest recesses of a karstic system near the town of Altamura in Southern Italy. We present here a detailed description of the cranium, after we virtually extracted it from the surrounding stalagmites and stalactites. The morphology of the Altamura cranium fits within the Neanderthal variability, though it retains features occurring in more archaic European samples. Some of these features were never observed in Homo neanderthalensis, i.e. in fossil specimens dated between 300 and 40 ka. Considering the U-Th age we previously obtained (>130 ka), the morphology of Altamura suggests that the archaic traits it retains may have been originated by geographic isolation of the early Neanderthal populations from Southern Italy. 3D reconstruction of a human cranium held within a deep cave in Italy is achieved with advanced virtual anthropology techniques; its features indicate that geographic isolation contributed to variation and evolution along the Neanderthal lineage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The arrival of the Longobards in Northern Italy in 568 CE marked a period of renewed political stability in the Peninsula after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. The trajectory of the spread of Longobards in Italy across the Alps and into the South is known from many literary sources. However, their mobility and residence patterns at a population level remain to be fully understood. Here we present a multi-isotopic analysis (87Sr/86Sr and 18O/16O) of 39 humans and 14 animals buried at the Longobard necropolis of Povegliano Veronese (VR, Italy; 6th—8th century CE), to address mode and tempo of the spread of this population in the Peninsula. The geographical location of Povegliano Veronese plays a key role: the site lies along the Via Postumia, which was one of the main ancient Roman roads of Northern Italy, representing an important route in post-classical Italy. The integration of isotopic data with the archaeological evidence allowed us to determine the presence of individuals from at least three different regions of origin, building a diachronic map of the dynamics of mobility of this group in northern Italy. [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]

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 13C. This finding was attributed to the consumption of domestic millets (Panicum miliaceum and/or Setaria italica), which are C4 pathway plants. Conversely, individuals from the two Bronze Age sites in Southern Italy were significantly depleted in 13C compared to those from the north. Here, millet was absent from the diet, and protein from C3 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to investigate parasitic infection in Italy during the Roman period (27 BCE-476 CE) and subsequent Longobard (Lombard) period (6th-8th CE)., Materials: Sediment samples from drains and burials from Roman Imperial-period sites in Italy (Lucus Feroniae, Oplontis, Vacone, and Vagnari), Late Antique and Longobard-period burials at Selvicciola (ca. 4th-8th CE), and Longobard-period burials at Vacone and Povegliano Veronese., Methods: Microscopy was used to identify helminth eggs and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect protozoan antigens., Results: Roundworm and whipworm were found in pelvic sediment from Roman-period burials, while roundworm and the protozoan Giardia duodenalis were identified in Roman-period drains. In pelvic sediment from the Late Antique through Longobard periods, roundworm and Taenia tapeworm eggs were identified., Conclusions: Fecal-oral parasites were found throughout Imperial Roman Italy, suggesting that gastrointestinal infections caused a significant disease burden. In the Longobard period we see continuity in transmission of fecal-oral parasites, and the appearance of zoonotic parasites acquired from eating undercooked meat., Significance: A wealth of information exists about certain diseases in the Roman period, but relatively little is known about intestinal parasites in Italy during the Roman and Longobard periods. This is the first evidence for Giardia in Roman period Italy, and for any parasites in the Longobard period in Italy., Limitations: Low egg concentrations and lack of controls for some samples makes it difficult to differentiate true infections from environmental contamination in some cases., Suggestions for Future Research: Continual study of samples from Roman and Longobard period Italy., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Concha bullosa is a rather common condition of the nasal turbinates, rarely reported in archaeological skeletal collections. This paper examines a case of concha bullosa as seen in a female cranium from a burial in central Italy, dated to the Longobard domination in the Peninsula (mid-7th- early 8th century CE)., Materials: The individual under investigation (T86/17) comes from the funerary area of Selvicciola, located near the town of Viterbo in northern Latium, Italy., Methods: The skeleton was macroscopically examined. We analyzed the CT-scans of the defect by applying innovative R-based virtual tools., Results: It was possible to calculate the inner volume of the concha bullosa and to provide a 3D visual assessment of its shape., Conclusions: Its size and shape suggest that the individual had this condition for a considerable period of time, during which its presence may have had affected her daily activities and health status., Significance: An under-represented paleopathological defect is examined for the first time through a virtual approach aimed at visualizing its shape and the assessment of its volume. New methods of 3D based virtual assessment can increase the informative value of defects., Suggestions for Further Research: Techniques used in this assessment should be considered as an evaluative tool for other conditions when macroscopic and radiographic imaging are limited., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

An examination of an adult male buried from the post-classical necropolis of La Selvicciola (Viterbo, Latium, Italy; 4 th -6 th 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., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

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.