Proposal of a Data Collection Form to Record Dento-Alveolar Features –Application to Two Roman Skeletal Samples from Italy

Bones and teeth are an important source of information about the lifestyle, health status and dietary habits of past populations. Modifications and lesions of the periodontal tissues also provide information about the health status and behavior of an individual or of an ancient population. In this paper a method to record some dento-alveolar features of both deciduous and permanent teeth is described. The forms that we propose make it easy to record the data in a Microsoft® Excel sheet. The form for adults has been applied to two Roman Imperial age skeletal samples from northern Italy – Casalecchio di Reno (II–V c. AD, Bologna) and Emilia Romagna, and central Italy – Quadrella (I–IV c. AD, Isernia, Molise)

Musculoskeletal Stress and Adult Age Markers in the Krapina Hominid Collection: the Study of Femora 213 Fe.1 and 214 Fe.2.

The purpose of this study was to examine morphological markers of activity and age on femora 213 Fe.1 and 214 Fe.2 of the Krapina hominid collection. This study is part of a large research on the Krapina collection aimed at studying morphological markers of activity (entheses, enthesopathies, articular modifications) and age, as well as dento-alveolar alterations and pathologies. For this purpose, we apply scoring methods that we have devised and standardized on modern Italian skeletal collections with known age, sex, activity during life, cause of death, etc.. This approach has been used to study other human skeletal series and it allows us to obtain homogeneous data that can be more easily compared and interpreted. On the basis of our recent investigations of Upper Palaeolithic skeletal remains of Taforalt (Morocco, 12000–11000), we also intend to re-examine the cutmarks on bones of the Krapina hominid collection to provide further knowledge about possible funerary practices of these Neandertalians. The study of markers of activity and age on femora 213 Fe.1 and 214 Fe.2 revealed strong robusticity and a postero-lateral position of the m. gluteus maximus enthesis, indicating morphological and size differences with respect to modern humans. The strong mechanical stress on the lateral parts of the proximal end of the femur seems to be confirmed by the partial dislocation of the hip joint suggested by the articular features observed on two coxal bones. Finally, we used our results to re-assess the attribution of age to the individuals represented by these two specimens

Tooth fractures in the Krapina Neandertals

Dental fractures can be produced during life or post-mortem. Ante-mortem chipping may be indicative of different uses of the dentition in masticatory and non-masticatory activities related to variable diets and behaviors. The Krapina collection (Croatia, 130,000 years BP), thanks to the large number of teeth (293 teeth and tooth fragments) within it, offers an excellent sample to investigate dental fractures systematically. Recorded were the distribution, position and severity of the ante-mortem fractures according to standardized methods. High frequencies of teeth with chipping in both Krapina adults and subadults suggest that the permanent and deciduous dentition were heavily subjected to mechanical stress. This is particularly evident when the frequencies of chipping are compared with those in modern humans (Upper Paleolithic and historic samples) that we analysed using the same methods. The distribution of chipping in the Krapina sample (anterior teeth are more affected) and its position (labial) suggest a systematic use of the anterior teeth for non-masticatory tasks

FunerarypracticesoftheIberomaurusianpopulationofTaforalt(Tafoughalt, Morocco,11e12,000BP): new hypotheses based on a grave by grave skeletal inventory and evidence of deliberate human modification of the remains

The Iberomaurusian necropolis of Taforalt (Morocco, 11-12,000 BP), excavated by Roche in the 1950s, contains 28 multiple graves. The osteological collection has been the focus of many anthropological studies and has been used as a comparative sample for other paleoanthropological investigations. The presence of particular sepulchral structures and the use of ochre testify to complex funerary practices, which have not been adequately investigated thus far. Unfortunately, neither the excavation records nor detailed descriptions of the graves are available today. The aim of this study is to investigate the funerary practices of the population based on examination of the human osteological collection (Institut de Pale' ontologie Humaine, Paris). The bones of adolescents and adults were inventoried to analyse the contents of each grave and the distribution of intentionally modified specimens (ochre-dyeing, cutmarks). The minimum number of individuals was also calculated. The results suggest that the necropolis is a group of primary and secondary burials, even within the same ''grave,'' of about 40 adolescents and adults. The previous estimate of 86 individuals by Ferembach in 1962 appears to be an overestimation. The presence of red ochre and cutmarks on some bones suggests various rituals, which denote a certain profundity of thinking about life and death. It is possible that the Taforalt cave was a special, perhaps sacred, place where particular rituals were celebrated or where more occasional social or religious events took place. Comparison with other Iberomaurusian and Capsian sites provides evidence of cultural continuity in North Africa for a long period of time. The present study demonstrates that reexamination of human osteological collections deriving from ancient excavations, for which a lack of adequate documentation of the context of the specimens is fairly common, can also provide information about aspects like funerary practices, which are usually investigated on the basis of other sources

Dental status and 3D reconstruction of the malocclusion of the famous singer Farinelli (1705-1782)

The famous castrato singer Carlo Broschi, better known as Farinelli (1705-1782), was exhumed by our research group in July 2006 to study his skeletal remains and reconstruct his osteobiography. He was castrated before puberty to preserve his high voice into adulthood. The osteological study has revealed several skeletal features probably related to the effects of castration (Hyperostosis frontalis interna, long limb bones, persistence of epiphyseal lines, osteoporosis) (Belcastro et al., 2011). Here we present the study of the teeth and maxilla-mandibular region using classic and tomographic morphological methods. Considering the subject's age and the period during which he lived, his oral health conditions were good. On the basis of the very pronounced anomalous vestibular buccal wear, a overbite visualized by 3D reconstruction, was hypothesized. This facial disharmony is of particular interest when considering Farinelli's extraordinary singing qualities and stage presence. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

RICOSTRUZIONE 3D DELLA MALOCCLUSIONE DI CARLO BROSCHI, DETTO FARINELLI (1705-1782)

Nell’ambito delle ricerche svolte per ricostruire l’osteobiografia di Farinelli, riesumato alla Certosa di Bologna nel 2006 dal gruppo di ricerca dei laboratori di Bioarcheologia e Osteologia forense (Università di Bologna) e di Paleopatologia (Università di Pisa), si presentano i risultati delle analisi morfometriche, fotografiche, tomografiche e microtomografiche sullo scheletro facciale di Farinelli. Nonostante il pessimo stato di conservazione, esse hanno consentito di ricostruire in 3D la malocclusione di II classe da morso profondo (overbite accentuato), particolarmente interessante tenendo conto delle straordinarie qualità canore e sceniche di Farinelli. Si conservano 25 denti e gli incisivi e i canini inferiori presentano un’usura buccale molto marcata e inclinata vestibolarmente, che ha esposto la dentina cancellando lo smalto della corona. Poiché molte caratteristiche fisiche di Farinelli sono riconducibili alla castrazione subita in età prepuberale (Belcastro et al. 2010), la retrusione della mandibola potrebbe essere legata a disarmonia facciale dovuta ad una sua minore crescita rispetto al resto del cranio. Dal punto di vista biologico, la mandibola è meno soggetta agli effetti della mancanza di testosterone legata alla castrazione e la sua crescita non è paragonabile a quella di altri distretti corporei (Gullo, 2002). Diversi studi (Mumma e Keith, 1970; Mercier e Poitras, 1992; English et al., 2002) hanno segnalato che questo tipo di malocclusione ha anche effetto sulle attività masticatorie con conseguente ridotta capacità di sminuzzare il cibo rispetto a coloro che hanno un’occlusione normale. Questo comporterebbe disturbi gastrici e intestinali. Stando a queste indicazioni e alle notizie sul “mal di stomaco” del quale Farinelli soffriva cronicamente, (cfr. carteggio con il conte Sicinio Pepoli e con Pietro Metastasio) si potrebbe ipotizzare che una delle possibili cause di questo malessere, oltre agli elevati livelli di stress, potesse essere il tipo anomalo di occlusione

Farinelli: dall’estumulazione allo studio antropologico dei suoi resti scheletrici

Farinelli: dall’estumulazione allo studio antropologico dei suoi resti scheletrici. Indagini non distruttive e tomografia computerizzata sui reperti scheletrici del Farinell