About the Journal

Bioarchaeology in a general sense is the discipline that deals with the study of any biological remains recovered from archaeological contexts. It concerns the analysis of human osteological remains of archaeological interest.
Bioarchaeology is an integrative, holistic field that combines different theories, methods, and studies to offer a comprehensive interpretative framework of archaeol
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Current Issue

Vol. 1 No. 2 (2023)

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE: PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Voices from the cloister. Bioarchaeology of a modern Nunnery
Roberta Fusco
• To provide new anthropological, paleopathological, and historical data about female convents of the XVIII century.
• To improve the literature on putridaria in Northern Italy.
• Deepen our knowledge of funerary use and body care in monasteries of the modern era.
 
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
The identification of the body of Carlo Girolamo I Della Porta (1635-1704)
Omar Larentis
• Presentation of an interdisciplinary study analyzing a burial hypogeum from the Modern Age.
• Discussion on the significance of assessing taphonomic factors in the archaeological setting.
• Step-by-step discussion of the phases leading to the personal identification of an individual in an archaeological context.
 
CASE REPORT: PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Bioarchaeological study of the skeletal remains attributed to Saint Ceccardo from Luni, patron of Carrara (Tuscany)
Simona Minozzi, Giovanni Gatti, Stefano Ricci, Valentina Giuffra, Agata Lunardini
• Saint Ceccardo was a robust man aged to 30-45 years with a short stature
• He suffered from some stresses in childhood and a few pathological conditions before death
• Isotope analysis evidenced a good nutritional profile with high protein intake
• The radiocarbon dating agrees that he was bishop of Luni during the 9th century
 
REVIEW: PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Human remains: European legislative perspective on the limit between forensic and archaeological jurisdiction with special regard to war graves
Arianna Vanni
• In Europe there is an heterogeneous legislation regarding the handling of human remains.
• To highlight different time boundaries between forensic-archaeological pertinence of mass graves.
• Key points of this review are: chronological boundaries, pertinence of the recovery and reburial.
• To raise awareness on the topic of mass graves and related disparities between European states.
 
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: PALEOPATHOLOGY
Paleopathology and functional anatomy evaluation of the ex voto of Veii preserved in Modena: historical context and possible interpretations
Mirko Traversari, Gianandrea Pasquinelli, Adriana Latorre, Elisabetta Cilli, Laura Michetti, Carla Tulini, Cristiana Zanasi, Luca Ventura
• To deepen an Etruscan devotional practice;
• To discover the anatomical knowledge of the Etruscan people;
• To re-evaluate the morphofunctional aspects of Etruscan votive offerings;
• To analyze the paleopathological aspects at the time of the Etruscans.
 
CASE REPORT: MUSEUM
The Lady of Pavia: microbiological essays and qualitative GC/MS characterization of embalming materials
Marco Nicola, Luca Maraviglia, Riccardo Ariotti, Francesco Chiara, Sabina Malgora
• Molecular characterization techniques were applied to an Egyptian mummy of the University of Pavia.
• Compositional data about embalming materials and other compounds present were collected
• An assessment of the microbial activity on the materials has been performed
• Analytical data were used to help conservation, preservation practice and archaeological study
 
SHORT REPORT: MUSEUM
The Valcuvia Bioarchaeological Archive: an example of human remains conservation, valorization and fruition
Claudia Bressan, Caterina Pangrazzi
• The creation of the Valcuvia bioarchaeological archive in Caravate (VA).
• To describe the importance of an ethical evaluation of skeletal remains in research.
• To highlight the necessity of a cataloguing process for human remains.
 
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: ARCHAEOENTOMOLOGY
From the field to the microscope: funerary archaeoentomology workflow
Stefano Vanin, Giorgia Giordani, Giuseppina Carta
• Funerary Archaeoentomology is the discipline dealing with insects and other arthropods from funerary contexts
• No protocols and guidelines are now available due to the young history of the discipline and because of the big variety of contexts
• A workflow composed by seven steps is proposed to maximize the information insects can provide
• The seven steps are: documentation, collection on site, insect-sediment separation, specimens cleaning, mounting, labelling and identification
 
CASE REPORT: ARCHAEOBOTANY
Archaebotanical analysis of a roman funerary context of Mutina: via Ferrari
Federica Riso
• The research has allowed to identify important ritual aspects within the funerary context of via Ferrari.
• Recurring and standardised behaviours have been noticed.
• 836 seeds/fruits and 19 taxa have been identified, belonging to Cereals, Pulses and Fruit plants.
• Most of the remains are charred and they are evidence of offerings during the cremation process.
• Wood was gathered based on its availability, thus ash is the most frequent taxon.

Published: 14-06-2023

Editorial

Editorial

Marta Licata
Abstract 35 | PDF Downloads 22

Page e2023008

Original Article: Physical Anthropology

Voices from the cloister. Bioarchaeology of a modern Nunnery

Roberta Fusco
Abstract 67 | PDF Downloads 46

Page e2023010

The identification of the body of Carlo Girolamo I Della Porta (1635-1704)

Omar Larentis
Abstract 62 | PDF Downloads 172

Page e2023011

Case Report: Physical Anthropology

Bioarchaeological study of the skeletal remains attributed to Saint Ceccardo from Luni, patron of Carrara (Tuscany)

Simona Minozzi, Giovanni Gatti, Stefano Ricci, Valentina Giuffra, Agata Lunardini
Abstract 126 | PDF Downloads 50

Page e2023012

Review: Physical Anthropology

Original Article: Paleopathology

Paleopathology and functional anatomy evaluation of the ex voto of Veii preserved in Modena: historical context and possible interpretations

Mirko Traversari, Gianandrea Pasquinelli; Adriana Latorre; Elisabetta Cilli, Laura Maria Michetti, Carla Tulini, Cristiana Zanasi, Luca Ventura
Abstract 82 | PDF Downloads 39

Page e2023015

Case Report: Museum

The Lady of Pavia: microbiological essays and qualitative GC/MS characterization of embalming materials

Marco Nicola, Luca Maraviglia, Riccardo Ariotti, Francesco Chiara, Sabina Malgora
Abstract 66 | PDF Downloads 39

Page e2023013

Short Report: Museum

The Valcuvia bioarchaeological archive: an example of human remains conservation, valorization and fruition

Claudia Bressan, Caterina Pangrazzi
Abstract 38 | PDF Downloads 32

Page e2023009

Original Article: Archaeoentomology

From the field to the microscope: funerary archaeoentomology workflow

Stefano Vanin, Giorgia Giordani, Giuseppina Carta
Abstract 55 | PDF Downloads 78

Page e2023017

Case Report: Archaeobotany

Archaeobotanical analysis of a roman funerary context in Mutina: via Ferrari

Federica Riso
Abstract 31 | PDF Downloads 23

Page e2023014

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