STUDIO ANTROPOLOGICO E PALEONUTRIZIONALE DEI RESTI OSSEI UMANI CREMATI PROVENIENTI DALLA NECROPOLI ROMANA DELLA STAZIONE CENTRALE DI BOLOGNA.

Abstract

In this anthropological study 144 cremation burials, from bi-ritual Roman Central Station of Bologna necropolis(I-III century AD), were analysed. Despite the limitations imposed by the conditions of the bones, it was possible to evaluate the number of individuals, sex and age at death, metric skeletal indicators, abnormalities and diseases. Different aspects of the funerary ritual were also evaluated, as the temperature of combustion, the degree of bone fragmentation, the rapresentativeness of the anatomical districts, the presence of animal bones and botanical remains. The reconstruction showed a demographic profile of the typical ancient Roman society of the First Imperial Age with a high mortality during early childhood and in adulthood (35-40 years old). The paleonutritional analysis is carried out on a cremated and a buried samples through different analytical methods (ICP-MS, XRF). The study examined the concentration levels of major nutrient elements (Sr, Zn, Ba). The analysis revealed a pattern of a different proportion of carbs/meat between the two samples. This confirmed the link between lower consumption of cereal and increased access to meat consumption in people with higher social status