Chapters authored
Anthropological and Paleodietary Analysis of Human Remains: A Case Study from the Teutonic Settlement of Torre Alemanna in Puglia (Cerignola, FG, Italy)
The main object of this paper is to reconstruct the presence of the knights of the Teutonic Order in the archeological site of Torre Alemanna (Foggia, Italy), one of the best preserved Teutonic production sites. This is an interdisciplinary study that includes archeological and anthropological research combined with the paleonutritional results and radiocarbon dating. Specifically, for this study, the area 5 of the complex has been investigated. The cemetery is located in the northwest corner of the complex, and the burials are probably dated at the beginning of the Teutonic settlement. In order to draw conclusions about their presence, attention has been focused primarily on ergonomics activities, injuries, morphological and metric characters, diet, and dating.
Part of the book: Biological Anthropology
Cranial Trepanation: Case Studies between the IV Century BC and VI Century in Southern Italy
Cranial trepanation is among the oldest head surgical procedures, creating a hole through the skull. This procedure is the surgical removal of a portion of the skull as a medical treatment to cure a specific disease or as a religious or magical ritual. Cranial trepanation has been reported from very early times and widespread all over the world. This work is based on data from six trepanned skulls from the Hellenistic Age (IV century BC) to the Late Antiquity (VI century). The samples come from Puglia (Southern Italy), from the northern (the peninsula of Gargano) to the central area: three cases come from Vieste (Foggia), Ischitella (Foggia) and Alberona (Foggia), the others three from Gravina in Puglia (Bari) and Canosa (Barletta, Andria, Trani). All skulls have been evaluated via an anthropological, radiological and odontological approach. This study indicates the value of a methodology, which encompasses anthropology, radiology and imaging, and archeo-forensic investigations, highlighting the need for multidisciplinary teamwork in any assessment of human remains. The study supports the hypothesis of the presence of a long tradition of medical centres in the Mediterranean basin area.
Part of the book: Biological Anthropology