Leopoli-Cencelle (9th–15th centuries CE), a centre of Papal foundation: bioarchaeological analysis of the skeletal remains of its inhabitants
Background The medieval city of Leopoli-Cencelle (9th–15th centuries CE) represents an exceptional study-model for extending our knowledge of the Italian Medieval period due not only to the large sample size available but also to the widespread presence of material data and a well preserved archaeol...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Annals of Human Biology |
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| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03014460.2020.1808064 |
| _version_ | 1797685578737647616 |
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| author | Marica Baldoni Francesca Romana Stasolla Giuseppina Scano Luigi Tonino Marsella Olga Rickards Cristina Martínez-Labarga |
| author_facet | Marica Baldoni Francesca Romana Stasolla Giuseppina Scano Luigi Tonino Marsella Olga Rickards Cristina Martínez-Labarga |
| author_sort | Marica Baldoni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background The medieval city of Leopoli-Cencelle (9th–15th centuries CE) represents an exceptional study-model for extending our knowledge of the Italian Medieval period due not only to the large sample size available but also to the widespread presence of material data and a well preserved archaeological context. Aim This research aims to reconstruct the osteobiography of the inhabitants of this centre of Papal foundation. Subjects and methods The analysed sample counts 877 individuals. Scientifically established anthropological morphological methods were used for assessing their biological profile as well as for reconstructing lifestyle and health status. Results The sample consists of 62.49% adults and 37.51% non-adults. The mortality pattern shows the highest peak prior to 1 year and between 1 and 6 years of age and a reduced longevity of female individuals as commonly observed in pre-antibiotic era populations. Metric and musculoskeletal stress markers revealed different biomechanical stress between sexes probably carrying out different working activities. The palaeopathological analysis supports a general good health status with the exception of a few specific cases. Conclusions The present research helps shed light on the lifestyle of the inhabitants of Leopoli-Cencelle, enhancing a better understanding of the Italian Middle Ages. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T00:46:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-87c5be1e25a34376b7f29f83df830c74 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0301-4460 1464-5033 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T00:46:10Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of Human Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-87c5be1e25a34376b7f29f83df830c742023-09-14T15:36:12ZengTaylor & Francis GroupAnnals of Human Biology0301-44601464-50332020-08-0147652254010.1080/03014460.2020.18080641808064Leopoli-Cencelle (9th–15th centuries CE), a centre of Papal foundation: bioarchaeological analysis of the skeletal remains of its inhabitantsMarica Baldoni0Francesca Romana Stasolla1Giuseppina Scano2Luigi Tonino Marsella3Olga Rickards4Cristina Martínez-Labarga5Dipartimento di Biologia Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Laboratorio di Antropologia Forense e Biologia dello ScheletroDipartimento di Scienze dell’Antichità, Sapienza Università di Roma Piazzale Aldo MoroDipartimento di Biologia Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Centro di Antropologia Molecolare per lo Studio del DNA AnticoDipartimento di Biomedicina e Prevenzione Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Laboratorio di Medicina LegaleDipartimento di Biologia Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Centro di Antropologia Molecolare per lo Studio del DNA AnticoDipartimento di Biologia Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Laboratorio di Antropologia Forense e Biologia dello ScheletroBackground The medieval city of Leopoli-Cencelle (9th–15th centuries CE) represents an exceptional study-model for extending our knowledge of the Italian Medieval period due not only to the large sample size available but also to the widespread presence of material data and a well preserved archaeological context. Aim This research aims to reconstruct the osteobiography of the inhabitants of this centre of Papal foundation. Subjects and methods The analysed sample counts 877 individuals. Scientifically established anthropological morphological methods were used for assessing their biological profile as well as for reconstructing lifestyle and health status. Results The sample consists of 62.49% adults and 37.51% non-adults. The mortality pattern shows the highest peak prior to 1 year and between 1 and 6 years of age and a reduced longevity of female individuals as commonly observed in pre-antibiotic era populations. Metric and musculoskeletal stress markers revealed different biomechanical stress between sexes probably carrying out different working activities. The palaeopathological analysis supports a general good health status with the exception of a few specific cases. Conclusions The present research helps shed light on the lifestyle of the inhabitants of Leopoli-Cencelle, enhancing a better understanding of the Italian Middle Ages.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03014460.2020.1808064middle agesosteoarchaeologylatiumpaleodemographic patternmusculoskeletal stress markers |
| spellingShingle | Marica Baldoni Francesca Romana Stasolla Giuseppina Scano Luigi Tonino Marsella Olga Rickards Cristina Martínez-Labarga Leopoli-Cencelle (9th–15th centuries CE), a centre of Papal foundation: bioarchaeological analysis of the skeletal remains of its inhabitants Annals of Human Biology middle ages osteoarchaeology latium paleodemographic pattern musculoskeletal stress markers |
| title | Leopoli-Cencelle (9th–15th centuries CE), a centre of Papal foundation: bioarchaeological analysis of the skeletal remains of its inhabitants |
| title_full | Leopoli-Cencelle (9th–15th centuries CE), a centre of Papal foundation: bioarchaeological analysis of the skeletal remains of its inhabitants |
| title_fullStr | Leopoli-Cencelle (9th–15th centuries CE), a centre of Papal foundation: bioarchaeological analysis of the skeletal remains of its inhabitants |
| title_full_unstemmed | Leopoli-Cencelle (9th–15th centuries CE), a centre of Papal foundation: bioarchaeological analysis of the skeletal remains of its inhabitants |
| title_short | Leopoli-Cencelle (9th–15th centuries CE), a centre of Papal foundation: bioarchaeological analysis of the skeletal remains of its inhabitants |
| title_sort | leopoli cencelle 9th 15th centuries ce a centre of papal foundation bioarchaeological analysis of the skeletal remains of its inhabitants |
| topic | middle ages osteoarchaeology latium paleodemographic pattern musculoskeletal stress markers |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03014460.2020.1808064 |
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