This thesis investigates the daily life of an early medieval community in Central Italy by focusing on the skeletal collection (n = 66) from the ancient site of Satricum dating between the 9th and...Show moreThis thesis investigates the daily life of an early medieval community in Central Italy by focusing on the skeletal collection (n = 66) from the ancient site of Satricum dating between the 9th and 11th century AD, to advance our understanding of this everchanging period. The research employs the study of paleopathology, with a focus on osteoarthritis (OA), osteochondritis dissecans (OD), and periosteal new bone growth (PNB). The skeletal analyses revealed a high prevalence of joint degeneration, particularly in the spine, hip, shoulder, and elbow, while also PNB was recorded in relatively high numbers. The findings suggest that Satricum was a small, self-reliant community engaged in agricultural practices with ongoing physiological stressors. However, the presence of OA might have been influenced by both activity and genetic predisposition due to the long duration of the community settling in Satricum. The study also explored the impact of sex and age. The osteological assessment indicated a potential surplus of males, aligning with demographic patterns of early medieval times, while the identified females showed no distinctive activity markers, prompting further investigation into the "missing women" concept of the Middle Ages. The presence of only five subadults also raised questions about community beliefs, suggesting a potential societal distinction for individuals under the age of seven since no social separation was recognized between the adults and juveniles over that age. Furthermore, the funerary practices exhibited potential indicators of a Christian belief system, such as burial orientation and the absence of grave goods. The reuse of a Roman villa with a possible apsis also hinted at the presence of an ecclesial building. Comparisons with other Central Italian sites of the same period (Albano, Santa Severa, and Colonna) highlighted pathological and demographic commonalities. Therefore, in the broader context, this research contributes to existing knowledge by confirming scholar’s theories about life in rural medieval Central Italy. Finally, this study emphasizes the significance of investigating previously unstudied skeletal collections because these findings not only deepen our understanding of Satricum but also provide a foundation for future research, encouraging diverse approaches to further unravel the complexities of this ancient community.Show less
Osteochondritis Dissecans (OD) describes a pathological condition of the subchondral bone and surrounding cartilage of synovial joints, such as the knee, elbow and ankle. Clinical research has...Show moreOsteochondritis Dissecans (OD) describes a pathological condition of the subchondral bone and surrounding cartilage of synovial joints, such as the knee, elbow and ankle. Clinical research has associated OD to vigorous and strenuous activity, as well as trauma, micro or repetitive, due to its high occurrence in athletes. Reports of OD in archaeological skeletal remains are few and the majority involves a small number of individuals. Most studies of archaeological populations have found low OD prevalence, usually under one percent. In contrast, analysis of the Middenbeemster skeletal sample from the Netherlands found that 14 out of 93 adult individuals (15.1%), including males and females from different age categories, had OD in either one or multiple joints. This high percentage, combined with the fact that Middenbeemster derives from a rural agricultural population, is strong support for the impact of physical activity on bone. Furthermore, people in an agricultural society, that combines extensive outdoor activity on an uneven surface, are more susceptible to trauma. Finally, the klompen, one of Netherlands’ current national emblems, were commonly worn not only in the Netherlands but in other regions of Northern Europe as well. It is suggested that their hard and inflexible surface, apart from limiting the natural freedom of movement of the foot, could also impact the tarsals and metatarsals, in case of trauma. Repetition of trauma could result in injury to the bone and eventually the cartilage. All these factors combined could result in the high frequency of OD observed in the Middenbeemster sample. Therefore, it is proposed that OD is a useful marker to aid in reconstructing previous life practices and subsequently better classification criteria should be developed.Show less
