in Dalle steppe al Mediterraneo. Popoli, culture, integrazione, Atti del Convegno internazionale di studi, Fondazioni e rituali funerari delle aristocrazie germaniche nel contesto mediterraneo (Cimitile-Santa Maria Capua Vetere, 18-19 giugno 2015), Napoli, pp. 251-268., 2017
This study aimed to evaluate the reliability of an age estimation method based on the pulp⁄tooth ... more This study aimed to evaluate the reliability of an age estimation method based on the pulp⁄tooth area ratio by assessing intra-and inter-examiner agreement across five observers at different intervals. Using the same X-ray device and technical parameters, 96 digital periapical X-ray images of upper and lower canines were obtained from 28 deceased people in Central America, whose age at death ranged from 19 to 49 years. Excellent and good agreement of results were achieved, and there were no statistically significant differences. The R2 value for upper teeth (54.0%) was higher than the R2 value for lower teeth (45.7%). The highest intraclass correlation coefficient value was 0.995 (0.993-0.997) and the lowest 0.798 (0.545-0.895). Inter-examiner agreement was high with values of 0.975 (0.965-0.983) and 0.927 (0.879-0.955). This method is adequate for assessing age in missing and unidentified people, including victims of mass disasters.
The recent experience teaching Biological Anthropology in the master’s degree course in Archaeolo... more The recent experience teaching Biological Anthropology in the master’s degree course in Archaeology at the University of Salento (6 Italian CFU = 6 European ECTS, 21 lectures, 42 hours in total plus a final oral exam) prompts me to make a few reflections. The first is on certain limitations due to prior knowledge or at least to the so-called prerequisites required of students, which are indispensable for tackling a broad and diverse course subject with awareness. The second point is about offering free study opportunities to students with excavations and workshops where they can put into practice the knowledge acquired to improve it.
Il lavoro di tesi consiste nello studio diacronico dell’evoluzione delle necropoli dal Tardoantic... more Il lavoro di tesi consiste nello studio diacronico dell’evoluzione delle necropoli dal Tardoantico al basso Medioevo, prendendo come modello il caso della necropoli del sito archeologico di San Genesio (San Miniato, PI). La presente ricerca, muovendo da un doppio approccio archeologico e antropologico, indispensabile per questo tipo di contesto, è volta all'analisi dei contesti cimiteriali nel tentativo di rispondere a problemi interpretativi generali e questioni specifiche. Lo studio delle inumazioni a partire dall'analisi sul campo ha permesso di effettuare considerazioni di grande importanza, grazie alle quali gruppi e singole tombe sono stati interpretati in modo da consentirne l’inserimento in precise fasi cronologiche oppure permettere il riferimento a un gruppo etnico piuttosto che ad un altro. Le osservazioni tafonomiche hanno permesso di ricostruire rituali o modi di seppellire altrimenti poco o per nulla visibili archeologicamente. Ne è un esempio il caso del cimit...
During excavations carried out at the necropolis of San Genesio, taphonomic analysis permitted th... more During excavations carried out at the necropolis of San Genesio, taphonomic analysis permitted the detection of a small nucleus of distinctive graves dated to the sixth century and set within the wider context of autochthonous burials. This group was characterized by features such as wooden coffins and tree trunk burials, elements typical of the Germanic cultural milieu. Furthermore, anthropological analysis of the skeletal remains identified a case of Artificial Cranial Deformation (ACD), a distinctive element of Gothic ethnic groups. Individuals with ACD are extremely rare in the Italian archeological record and are related to the period in which the Gothic migrations took place. The subject, buried in a wooden casket, was a male individual with a deformed skull, polytraumatized, and most likely killed in combat, possibly during the Gothic War. This is the first Italian case of an individual with ACD, who died a certified violent death. The present study, despite the absence of traditional Germanic grave goods, has allowed to hypothesize the existence at San Genesio of an allochthonous group, a theory further supported by strontium isotope analysis.
Pathological conditions in skeletal remains, such as cribra orbitalia and porotic hyperostosis, c... more Pathological conditions in skeletal remains, such as cribra orbitalia and porotic hyperostosis, can be caused by etiologically different forms of anemia: hereditary hemolytic anemias, iron deficiency anemias, megaloblastic anemias, etc. Though not always simple to apply, differential diagnosis of cases of anemia found in the archaeological record is essential to correlate the pathology with the wider environmental and socio-cultural context. Anthropological analysis of the skeletal sample from the archaeological site of Vetricella showed a very high prevalence of cribra orbitalia and porotic hyperostosis. The differential diagnosis between acquired and congenital anemia is essential in the study of this condition, especially considering the presence of Plasmodium falciparum in this area and its role in the possible subsequent spread of the thalassaemia gene, which was widespread until a few decades ago. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis was carried out on a large subset of the skeletal sample, including both anemic and non-anemic individuals, to investigate the nutritional patterns of the Vetricella population in order to verify whether the widespread traces of anemia might be of dietary origin. Isotope results allowed for the exclusion of the hypothesis of nutritional-deficiency anemia and supported the hypothesis of congenital anemia.
The individual age at death estimation is one of the main components of the anthropological study... more The individual age at death estimation is one of the main components of the anthropological study and is the basis of demographic studies conducted on ancient peoples. However, the different methods commonly used in anthropology for adult age at death determination provide estimates of the age in the form of wide intervals. This happens regardless of the state of preservation of bones, even if in case of a poorly preserved skeletons we can only determine the individual as an adult. The consequence is the inability to develop demographic studies with a good degree of reliability. Several age estimation methods apply the various forms of tooth modification, including wear, root dentine transparency, tooth cementum annulation, racemization of aspartic acid, and apposition of secondary dentine. Wear and the apposition of secondary dentine are the currently available non-destructive methods. Tooth wear is influenced by various external factors (masticatory function, type of food, timing ...
The discovery of reliable means to determine the age of an individual is a fundamental objective ... more The discovery of reliable means to determine the age of an individual is a fundamental objective in forensic medicine, in consideration of the constant increase of illegal immigration into the European community. In 2008 Cameriere et al. developed a method based on the relationship between age and the third molar index (I3m), which assesses the degree of maturation of the third molar through measurements made on orthopantomography. The purpose of this work was to test the accuracy of Cameriere's cut-off for I3m as a tool to assess full age (18) on a new sample of living subjects. Orthopantomographs of 287 Italian living subjects aged between 13 and 22 years have been randomly selected and included in the study. Identification number, gender, date of birth and date of execution of the radiograph were recorded for each patient on a Microsoft Excel® spreadsheet. Radiographs were digitalized and analyzed using a computerized image-processing program (Adobe® Photoshop® CS4). The resu...
in Dalle steppe al Mediterraneo. Popoli, culture, integrazione, Atti del Convegno internazionale di studi, Fondazioni e rituali funerari delle aristocrazie germaniche nel contesto mediterraneo (Cimitile-Santa Maria Capua Vetere, 18-19 giugno 2015), Napoli, pp. 251-268., 2017
This study aimed to evaluate the reliability of an age estimation method based on the pulp⁄tooth ... more This study aimed to evaluate the reliability of an age estimation method based on the pulp⁄tooth area ratio by assessing intra-and inter-examiner agreement across five observers at different intervals. Using the same X-ray device and technical parameters, 96 digital periapical X-ray images of upper and lower canines were obtained from 28 deceased people in Central America, whose age at death ranged from 19 to 49 years. Excellent and good agreement of results were achieved, and there were no statistically significant differences. The R2 value for upper teeth (54.0%) was higher than the R2 value for lower teeth (45.7%). The highest intraclass correlation coefficient value was 0.995 (0.993-0.997) and the lowest 0.798 (0.545-0.895). Inter-examiner agreement was high with values of 0.975 (0.965-0.983) and 0.927 (0.879-0.955). This method is adequate for assessing age in missing and unidentified people, including victims of mass disasters.
The recent experience teaching Biological Anthropology in the master’s degree course in Archaeolo... more The recent experience teaching Biological Anthropology in the master’s degree course in Archaeology at the University of Salento (6 Italian CFU = 6 European ECTS, 21 lectures, 42 hours in total plus a final oral exam) prompts me to make a few reflections. The first is on certain limitations due to prior knowledge or at least to the so-called prerequisites required of students, which are indispensable for tackling a broad and diverse course subject with awareness. The second point is about offering free study opportunities to students with excavations and workshops where they can put into practice the knowledge acquired to improve it.
Il lavoro di tesi consiste nello studio diacronico dell’evoluzione delle necropoli dal Tardoantic... more Il lavoro di tesi consiste nello studio diacronico dell’evoluzione delle necropoli dal Tardoantico al basso Medioevo, prendendo come modello il caso della necropoli del sito archeologico di San Genesio (San Miniato, PI). La presente ricerca, muovendo da un doppio approccio archeologico e antropologico, indispensabile per questo tipo di contesto, è volta all'analisi dei contesti cimiteriali nel tentativo di rispondere a problemi interpretativi generali e questioni specifiche. Lo studio delle inumazioni a partire dall'analisi sul campo ha permesso di effettuare considerazioni di grande importanza, grazie alle quali gruppi e singole tombe sono stati interpretati in modo da consentirne l’inserimento in precise fasi cronologiche oppure permettere il riferimento a un gruppo etnico piuttosto che ad un altro. Le osservazioni tafonomiche hanno permesso di ricostruire rituali o modi di seppellire altrimenti poco o per nulla visibili archeologicamente. Ne è un esempio il caso del cimit...
During excavations carried out at the necropolis of San Genesio, taphonomic analysis permitted th... more During excavations carried out at the necropolis of San Genesio, taphonomic analysis permitted the detection of a small nucleus of distinctive graves dated to the sixth century and set within the wider context of autochthonous burials. This group was characterized by features such as wooden coffins and tree trunk burials, elements typical of the Germanic cultural milieu. Furthermore, anthropological analysis of the skeletal remains identified a case of Artificial Cranial Deformation (ACD), a distinctive element of Gothic ethnic groups. Individuals with ACD are extremely rare in the Italian archeological record and are related to the period in which the Gothic migrations took place. The subject, buried in a wooden casket, was a male individual with a deformed skull, polytraumatized, and most likely killed in combat, possibly during the Gothic War. This is the first Italian case of an individual with ACD, who died a certified violent death. The present study, despite the absence of traditional Germanic grave goods, has allowed to hypothesize the existence at San Genesio of an allochthonous group, a theory further supported by strontium isotope analysis.
Pathological conditions in skeletal remains, such as cribra orbitalia and porotic hyperostosis, c... more Pathological conditions in skeletal remains, such as cribra orbitalia and porotic hyperostosis, can be caused by etiologically different forms of anemia: hereditary hemolytic anemias, iron deficiency anemias, megaloblastic anemias, etc. Though not always simple to apply, differential diagnosis of cases of anemia found in the archaeological record is essential to correlate the pathology with the wider environmental and socio-cultural context. Anthropological analysis of the skeletal sample from the archaeological site of Vetricella showed a very high prevalence of cribra orbitalia and porotic hyperostosis. The differential diagnosis between acquired and congenital anemia is essential in the study of this condition, especially considering the presence of Plasmodium falciparum in this area and its role in the possible subsequent spread of the thalassaemia gene, which was widespread until a few decades ago. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis was carried out on a large subset of the skeletal sample, including both anemic and non-anemic individuals, to investigate the nutritional patterns of the Vetricella population in order to verify whether the widespread traces of anemia might be of dietary origin. Isotope results allowed for the exclusion of the hypothesis of nutritional-deficiency anemia and supported the hypothesis of congenital anemia.
The individual age at death estimation is one of the main components of the anthropological study... more The individual age at death estimation is one of the main components of the anthropological study and is the basis of demographic studies conducted on ancient peoples. However, the different methods commonly used in anthropology for adult age at death determination provide estimates of the age in the form of wide intervals. This happens regardless of the state of preservation of bones, even if in case of a poorly preserved skeletons we can only determine the individual as an adult. The consequence is the inability to develop demographic studies with a good degree of reliability. Several age estimation methods apply the various forms of tooth modification, including wear, root dentine transparency, tooth cementum annulation, racemization of aspartic acid, and apposition of secondary dentine. Wear and the apposition of secondary dentine are the currently available non-destructive methods. Tooth wear is influenced by various external factors (masticatory function, type of food, timing ...
The discovery of reliable means to determine the age of an individual is a fundamental objective ... more The discovery of reliable means to determine the age of an individual is a fundamental objective in forensic medicine, in consideration of the constant increase of illegal immigration into the European community. In 2008 Cameriere et al. developed a method based on the relationship between age and the third molar index (I3m), which assesses the degree of maturation of the third molar through measurements made on orthopantomography. The purpose of this work was to test the accuracy of Cameriere's cut-off for I3m as a tool to assess full age (18) on a new sample of living subjects. Orthopantomographs of 287 Italian living subjects aged between 13 and 22 years have been randomly selected and included in the study. Identification number, gender, date of birth and date of execution of the radiograph were recorded for each patient on a Microsoft Excel® spreadsheet. Radiographs were digitalized and analyzed using a computerized image-processing program (Adobe® Photoshop® CS4). The resu...
The subject of this study is the osteological material
from Tombs 9 and 10 (T9 and T10) discovere... more The subject of this study is the osteological material from Tombs 9 and 10 (T9 and T10) discovered in November 2010 at Sant’Angelo Vecchio. The bones’ state of preservation is heavily compromised by several factors. In Tomb 9, which yielded the remains of an adult, the poor state of preservation can be attributed to the low pH of the soil. Increased soil acidity, often caused by certain types of cultivation (in particular the olive), is the primary cause of the dissolution of the calcium that constitutes the majority of bone tissue.34 This poor preservation sharply limited the amount of information that could be retrieved about the individual buried in Tomb 9. Tomb 10 contained two individuals, an adult (T10A) and a child (T10B). The adult’s state of preservation is markedly better than that of Tomb 9, but the integrity of the osteological material is nevertheless compromised by disturbances that presumably followed a reopening of the tomb in antiquity. The child’s state of preservation is very poor due to the fragility of the immature bones: even the teeth show notable demineralization.
This volume consists of a series of archaeological scientific articles by colleagues who have had... more This volume consists of a series of archaeological scientific articles by colleagues who have had the opportunity to share their work with Stefano Vassallo, being able, in this way, to appreciate the professional and, even more, human qualities with which he has carried out his work in his more than thirty-year career.
Double burials, ie simultaneous depositions of two individuals, are rare occurrence in ancient Gr... more Double burials, ie simultaneous depositions of two individuals, are rare occurrence in ancient Greece, so their discovery is always received with great interest. In the necropolises of Himera, only 15 double burials were discovered, out of over 13000 excavated tombs. With the exception of these and the mass graves relating to the battles of 480 and 409 BC, the necropolises of Himera are characterized by single burials. The taphonomic analyses, aimed at demonstrating the simultaneity of double burials, and the anthropological analyses to determine sex and age at death, show a skeletal sample that is decidedly heterogeneous by type of tomb, sex and age. Given the variety of the composition of the double burials it seems that there is no rule except simultaneous death and probably a bond between the people buried together.
The nEU-Med project: Vetricella, an Early Medieval royal property on Tuscany’s Mediterranean, 2020
The burials from the cemetery at Vetricella have been
analyzed following an archaeological and an... more The burials from the cemetery at Vetricella have been analyzed following an archaeological and anthropological approach in an attempt to answer both general issues and specific questions tied-in to a distinctive archeological context, not a settlement or religious complex, but rather an administrative centre, a royal court connected to the Kings of Italy and the Ottonian Dynasty of the German Kings during the post-Carolingian period. The study was carried out with the aim of reconstructing the biological and palaeodemographic profile of a human community that, between the mid-10th and beginning of the 11th century, during a phase that sees a change in function of the royal centre of Vetricella, and the beginnings of the graveyard. Over the course of three excavation campaigns (2016-2018) a total of 52 graves were identified and documented. While taphonomic observations have made it possible to reconstruct rituals and ways of burial that would otherwise have had little or no archaeological visibility, the topographical analyses of the cemetery, on the basis of the distribution of a number of graves, confirmed the initial hypothesis of the existence of a religious structure. For the anthropological study of the skeletal remains we did not limit ourselves to the uncritical application of traditional anthropological methods, but rather endeavored to comprehend which would be the most suitable approaches to garner data as near as possible to the biological reality of the sample, comparable to other topographically and chronologically analogous contexts. Sex determination analyses were carried out along with age at death, stature in life, unspecific and functional stress markers, pathologies and traumas. Results were submitted, where possible, to statistic tests and compared to other coeval sites.
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students, which are indispensable for tackling a broad and diverse course subject with awareness. The second point is about offering free study opportunities to students with excavations and workshops where they can put into practice the knowledge acquired to improve it.
students, which are indispensable for tackling a broad and diverse course subject with awareness. The second point is about offering free study opportunities to students with excavations and workshops where they can put into practice the knowledge acquired to improve it.
from Tombs 9 and 10 (T9 and T10) discovered in
November 2010 at Sant’Angelo Vecchio. The bones’
state of preservation is heavily compromised by several
factors. In Tomb 9, which yielded the remains of an
adult, the poor state of preservation can be attributed
to the low pH of the soil. Increased soil acidity, often
caused by certain types of cultivation (in particular the
olive), is the primary cause of the dissolution of the
calcium that constitutes the majority of bone tissue.34
This poor preservation sharply limited the amount of
information that could be retrieved about the individual
buried in Tomb 9.
Tomb 10 contained two individuals, an adult
(T10A) and a child (T10B). The adult’s state of preservation
is markedly better than that of Tomb 9, but
the integrity of the osteological material is nevertheless
compromised by disturbances that presumably
followed a reopening of the tomb in antiquity. The
child’s state of preservation is very poor due to the
fragility of the immature bones: even the teeth show
notable demineralization.
discovery is always received with great interest.
In the necropolises of Himera, only 15 double burials were discovered, out of over 13000 excavated tombs. With the
exception of these and the mass graves relating to the battles of 480 and 409 BC, the necropolises of Himera are
characterized by single burials.
The taphonomic analyses, aimed at demonstrating the simultaneity of double burials, and the anthropological analyses
to determine sex and age at death, show a skeletal sample that is decidedly heterogeneous by type of tomb, sex and age.
Given the variety of the composition of the double burials it seems that there is no rule except simultaneous death and
probably a bond between the people buried together.
analyzed following an archaeological and anthropological
approach in an attempt to answer both general issues and specific
questions tied-in to a distinctive archeological context,
not a settlement or religious complex, but rather an administrative
centre, a royal court connected to the Kings of Italy
and the Ottonian Dynasty of the German Kings during the
post-Carolingian period. The study was carried out with the
aim of reconstructing the biological and palaeodemographic
profile of a human community that, between the mid-10th
and beginning of the 11th century, during a phase that sees
a change in function of the royal centre of Vetricella, and
the beginnings of the graveyard. Over the course of three
excavation campaigns (2016-2018) a total of 52 graves were
identified and documented. While taphonomic observations
have made it possible to reconstruct rituals and ways of burial
that would otherwise have had little or no archaeological
visibility, the topographical analyses of the cemetery, on the
basis of the distribution of a number of graves, confirmed
the initial hypothesis of the existence of a religious structure.
For the anthropological study of the skeletal remains we did
not limit ourselves to the uncritical application of traditional
anthropological methods, but rather endeavored to comprehend
which would be the most suitable approaches to garner
data as near as possible to the biological reality of the sample,
comparable to other topographically and chronologically
analogous contexts. Sex determination analyses were carried
out along with age at death, stature in life, unspecific and
functional stress markers, pathologies and traumas. Results
were submitted, where possible, to statistic tests and compared
to other coeval sites.