Cilicia and the Roman Empire: reflections on Provincia Cilicia and its romanisation

This paper aims at the study of the Roman province of Cilicia, whose formation process was quite long (from the 1st century BC to 72 AD) and complicated by various events. Firstly, it will focus on a more precise determination of the geographic limits of the region, which are not clear and quite ambiguous in the ancient sources. Secondly, the author will thoroughly analyze the formation of the province itself and its progressive Romanization. Finally, political organization of Cilicia within the Roman empire in its different forms throughout time will be taken into account.This paper aims at the study of the Roman province of Cilicia, whose formation process was quite long (from the 1st century BC to 72 AD) and complicated by various events. Firstly, it will focus on a more precise determination of the geographic limits of the region, which are not clear and quite ambiguous in the ancient sources. Secondly, the author will thoroughly analyze the formation of the province itself and its progressive Romanization. Finally, political organization of Cilicia within the Roman empire in its different forms throughout time will be taken into account

Density separation of petrous bone powders for optimized ancient DNA yields

Density separation is a process routinely used to segregate minerals, organic matter, and even microplastics, from soils and sediments. Here we apply density separation to archaeological bone powders before DNA extraction to increase endoge-nous DNA recovery relative to a standard control extraction of the same powders. Using nontoxic heavy liquid solutions, we separated powders from the petrous bones of 10 individuals of similar archaeological preservation into eight density inter-vals (2.15 to 2.45 g/cm3 , in 0.05 increments). We found that the 2.30 to 2.35 g/cm 3 and 2.35 to 2.40 g/cm3 intervals yield-ed up to 5.28-fold more endogenous unique DNA than the corresponding standard extraction (and up to 8.53-fold before duplicate read removal), while maintaining signals of ancient DNA authenticity and not reducing library complexity. Although small 0.05 g/cm 3 intervals may maximally optimize yields, a single separation to remove materials with a density above 2.40 g/cm3 yielded up to 2.57-fold more endogenous DNA on average, which enables the simultaneous separation of samples that vary in preservation or in the type of material analyzed. While requiring no new ancient DNA laboratory equipment and fewer than 30 min of extra laboratory work, the implementation of density separation before DNA extraction can substantially boost endogenous DNA yields without decreasing library complexity. Although subsequent studies are required, we present theoretical and practical foundations that may prove useful when applied to other ancient DNA substrates such as teeth, other bones, and sediments

Vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for infections in patients affected by HCV-related liver cirrhosis

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its impact on infections in HCV-related liver cirrhosis. Methods: We enrolled 291 patients affected by HCV-related liver cirrhosis. Serum vitamin D levels were dosed at enrolment. The presence of infection was assessed at baseline and during follow-up based on physical examination and laboratory analyses. Results: Vitamin D deficiency (15 (p = 0.003), Child-Pugh class B/C vs A (p < 0.001), and active hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (p < 0.001). At multivariate analysis, vitamin D deficiency (p < 0.01), HCC (p < 0.05), hospitalization (p < 0.001) and exposure to immunosuppressant agents (p < 0.05) were independent risk factors for infection at baseline. Conclusions: Vitamin D may play a role in the development of infections in patients affected by liver cirrhosis, and preventive strategies with vitamin D supplementation are to be evaluated in randomized controlled trials

The Harbour Baths

Si presentano in sintesi i dati relativi alle indagini di scavo degli anni 1999-2002 nel complesso delle Terme del Port

The kilikarchia in the Roman province of Cilicia

The kilikarchia, attested by a very limited number of inscriptions from Cilicia, must be unquestionably compared with the equivalent offices based on the name of a province plus - άρχηϛ known in other provinces of Asia Minor and of the Roman East. The fact that currently this important charge is attested only by a quite restricted number of texts is remarkable, if we compare this situation with that of other Asiatic provinces, where the epigraphic occurrence of comparable duties is definitely richer. The paper points at a re-assessment of the known data concerning the kilikarchia in order to try to understand the duties of this magistrate throughout the Roman empire

Necropoli di Castel Sozzio, Civitella D’Agliano (Viterbo) - Concessione di scavo triennale (prot. 20766 of 10.07.2020) Direzione Generale Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio of the Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali e per il Turismo

Le attività di ricerca nella necropoli di Castel Sozzio (Civitella D’Agliano, VT) sono riprese nel mese di settembre del 2020, dopo oltre venti anni dalle prime due campagne effettuate nel 1997 e 1998 sotto l’egida della Sapienza Università di Roma, Dipartimento di Scienze dell’Antichità con la direzione della prof.ssa Emanuela Borgia. La necropoli si trova in una vallata a sud-est dell’odierna Civitella D’Agliano (VT), affacciata sulla valle del Tevere. Allo stato attuale delle indagini non è noto a quale insediamento la necropoli facesse riferimento, ma alcuni indizi inducono a supporre che nelle immediate vicinanze sorgesse una villa romana o una fattoria che, in epoca tardo-antica e alto medievale (epoca a cui si data la necropoli), si trasformò progressivamente in un piccolo insediamento rurale. Grazie anche alla collaborazione del Comune di Civitella D’Agliano nel 2020 si è provveduto inizialmente a ripristinare l’accesso alla necropoli e a disboscare l’area archeologica che era completamente invasa dalla vegetazione arbustiva e arborea. È stato così possibile evidenziare le aree dei due saggi effettuati nelle campagne pregresse, allora denominati α e β, e ripulire sistematicamente tutte le tombe individuate. Si tratta in totale di almeno 27 tombe, solo 23 delle quali sono state ad oggi indagate. La maggior parte delle tombe è del tipo a cassone, con copertura e spallette realizzate con lastre in tufo o ignimbrite; vi sono anche alcune tombe a fossa e tre tombe a cappuccina. Le tombe sono prevalentemente orientate ovest-est, ma ve ne sono almeno cinque orientate nord-sud. Nella campagna del 2020 sono state scavate tre tombe nel saggio α (nn. 24, 30-32, 31): vi sono attestate diverse fasi di utilizzo, con le ossa di alcuni individui ridotte nel fondo della cassa e altre ossa ammucchiate alla rinfusa al di fuori delle tombe stesse. Parallelamente alle attività di scavo e di documentazione topografica si è proceduto con la risistemazione dei materiali pertinenti alle precedenti campagne nei Depositi della Soprintendenza a Civitella D’Agliano. Gli antropologi della Sapienza, coordinati dal prof. Alfredo Coppa, hanno intrapreso lo studio dei reperti scheletrici: sono stati ad oggi identificati 70 individui, tra cui 22 maschi, 17 femmine, 7 infantili. Sono in corso studi e analisi per definire età, patologie e DNA dei defunti. Grazie alla collaborazione dell’INGV (dott. Marco Marchetti) sono anche state effettuate le prospezioni geofisiche con il georadar nell’area della necropoli per cercare di comprenderne l’estensione e le caratteristiche, anche in vista delle future campagne di scavo. Le nuove ricerche a Castel Sozzio sono quindi condotte in maniera multidisciplinare, focalizzandosi non solo sugli aspetti storico-archeologici e topografici, ma anche su quelli antropologici e paleoambientali, con lo scopo di ricostruire il contesto antico in maniera sistematica ottenendo una visione d'insieme. Ciò consentirà di ampliare le conoscenze di una zona, quale la Teverina laziale, tuttora poco nota e del tutto trascurata dagli studi scientifici

Elaiussa Sebaste: note su un'iscrizione funeraria dalla basilica bizantina delle Grandi Terme

The funerary inscription taken into account in this paper has been found in 2012 inside a tomb in the north aisle of the Byzantine basilica built inside the Great Baths at Elaiussa Sebaste. The text, even if fragmentary in the first lines, offers new insights on funerary rituals within this church in the 6th century AD. It states in fact that the multiple grave (called somatotheke) was reserved to the nephews (anepsioi) of the metropolites of Tarsos. Such a privilege suggests that the bishop of Tarsos, whose name is not men‑ tioned in the inscription, may have had some particular links with Sebaste and with this church, perhaps being one of the euergetes involved in the (re)construction of the building. This large basilica was much probably part of a wider complex – including also the nearby church built in the agora – situated along the pilgrim route connecting Tarsos with Aghia Thekla