Bioarchaeological approach to the study of the medieval population of Santa Severa (Rome, 7th–15th centuries)

Gnes, Micaela; Baldoni, Marica; Marchetti, Lorenza; Basoli, Francesco; Leonardi, Donatella; Canini, Antonella; Licoccia, Silvia; Enei, Flavio; Rickards, Olga; Martínez-Labarga, Cristina

doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2017.12.043

Cited by 7 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…However, due to the presence of non-specific stress markers (e.g. cribra), as well as infections (e.g periostitis and osteomyelitis) in two of these specimens (NS SU 124 Aa, NS SU 321) [24], the hypothesis of higher nitrogen values for these individuals being affected by potential nutritional stress cannot be totally excluded [82]. It has been documented that starvation may stimulate gluconeogenesis, and therefore the production of glucose from non-carbohydrate sources [47,[83][84][85][86][87], causing 15 N enrichment in body tissues [83,88].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Here we have applied a suite of scientific techniques to the skeletal remains of the Medieval community of Santa Severa (7 th -15 th century CE) in order to highlight their culture and food habits. This research integrates the available morphological data [24] with the results obtained by the present original and innovative multidisciplinary approach, with the aim to reconstruct the osteobiography of one of the largest Italian Medieval burial populations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Supporting information S1 Table. Biological profile of the Medieval individuals subjected to dental calculus analyses. Each sample was associated to a code, reporting NS (for identifying the archaeological area of "Casa del Nostromo") and a number (relative to the stratigraphic unit, SU), according to [24]. For each specimen, estimated sex (F, female; M, male; ND, sex determination was not determinable for the lack of diagnostic elements due to their bad conservation; IND, subadults with not determined sex because of sexual immaturity), estimated age at death (GA, generic adult individual) and district of the masticatory apparatus used for dental calculus sampling were reported.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Archaeological excavation unearthed two cemetery areas, known as "Casa del Nostromo" and "Piazza della Rocca", in use from the 7 th to the 15 th century CE, as confirmed by radiocarbon analysis on four skeletal specimens performed at the Centre for Diagnostic and Dating (CEDAD) of the University of Salento [23]. The skeletal collection has undergone osteological analysis and consists of 455 individuals, comprising 188 non-adults and 267 adults, which, overall, showed a high degree of biomechanical stress related to daily activities [24]. Degenerative and infectious diseases were also documented in some individuals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Grave goods were recovered only in some non-adult burials. The only exception is represented by the individual NS SU 321 which was buried in a sarcophagus where a cross and a stone cushion could be detected (see [24] for further details).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A multidisciplinary approach for investigating dietary and medicinal habits of the Medieval population of Santa Severa (7th-15th centuries, Rome, Italy)

et al. 2020

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A multidisciplinary approach, combining stable isotope analysis from bone proteins and investigations on dental calculus using DNA analysis, light microscopy, and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, was applied to reconstruct dietary and medicinal habits of the individuals recovered in the cemetery of the Castle of Santa Severa (7 th-15 th centuries CE; Rome, Italy). Stable isotope analysis was performed on 120 humans, 41 faunal specimens and 8 charred seeds. Dental calculus analyses were carried out on 94 samples. Overall, isotope data indicated an omnivorous diet based on C 3-terrestrial protein, although some individuals possessed carbon values indicative of C 4 plant consumption. In terms of animal protein, the diet was probably based on cattle, sheep, pig and chicken products, as witnessed by the archaeozoological findings. Evidence from calculus suggested the consumption of C 3 cereals, Fabaceae, Fagaceae, milk and dairy products. Secondary metabolites of herbs and wine were also detected. The detection of marine fish ancient DNA, as well as of ω3 fatty acids in calculus, hypothesized the consumption of marine foodstuffs for this coastal population, despite the lack of a clear marine isotopic signal and the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids in plant tissues. Moreover, the knowledge of ethnopharmacological tradition and the application of medicinal plants (e.g. Punica granatum L., Ephedra sp. L.) were also identified. The detection of artemisinin, known to have antimalarial properties, led to hypothesize the presence of malaria in the area. Altogether, the combined application of microscopy and biomolecular techniques provided an innovative reconstruction of Medieval lifeways in Central Italy.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A multidisciplinary approach for investigating dietary and medicinal habits of the Medieval population of Santa Severa (7th-15th centuries, Rome, Italy)

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Paleodemography: From archaeology and skeletal age estimation to life in the past

Boldsen

Milner

Ousley

2021

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

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Much of paleodemography, an interdisciplinary field with strong ties to archaeology, among other disciplines, is oriented toward clarifying the life experiences of past people and why they changed over time. We focus on how human skeletons contribute to our understanding of preindustrial demographic regimes, including when changes took place that led to the world as we know it today. Problems with existing paleodemographic practices are highlighted, as are promising directions for future work. The latter requires both better age estimates and innovative methods to handle data appropriately. Age‐at‐death estimates for adult skeletons are a particular problem, especially for adults over 50 years that undoubtedly are mistakenly underrepresented in published studies of archaeological skeletons. Better age estimates for the entirety of the lifespan are essential to generate realistic distributions of age at death. There are currently encouraging signs that after about a half‐century of intensive, and sometimes contentious, research, paleodemography is poised to contribute much to understandings of evolutionary processes, the structure of past populations, and human‐disease interaction, among other topics.

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Sex-related morbidity and mortality in non-adult individuals from the Early Medieval site of Valdaro (Italy): the contribution of dental enamel peptide analysis

Lugli

Figus

Silvestrini

et al. 2020

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports

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Bioarchaeological approach to the study of the medieval population of Santa Severa (Rome, 7th–15th centuries)

Cited by 7 publications

References 60 publications

A multidisciplinary approach for investigating dietary and medicinal habits of the Medieval population of Santa Severa (7th-15th centuries, Rome, Italy)

A multidisciplinary approach for investigating dietary and medicinal habits of the Medieval population of Santa Severa (7th-15th centuries, Rome, Italy)

Paleodemography: From archaeology and skeletal age estimation to life in the past

Sex-related morbidity and mortality in non-adult individuals from the Early Medieval site of Valdaro (Italy): the contribution of dental enamel peptide analysis

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