engleski

Bioarchaeological perspective on the population buried at Bribirska glavica

As was the case with archaeological excavations at Bribirska glavica, anthropological analysis of the skeletal material buried at Groblje cemetery revealed some new insights into the life and death of the population that inhabited the area. It was a challenge to analyse the osteological material because most of the graves contained more than one individual along with commingled bones. The first step was to determine the minimum number of individuals (MNI) in a skeletal assemblage, and when possible the whole skeletons or well preserved skulls were separately analysed. The minimum number of 217 individuals (152 adults and 65 subadults) was present in the analysed skeletal sample. Sex and age were determined for 110 skeletons. The sample comprising of 38 subadults, 20 females, and 52 males shows unequal ratio 0.73 : 0.38 : 1 with the evident underrepresentation of females. Taphonomy, which refers to the natural or intentional processes that alter the body after death, was observed for each skeleton. Preservation of the cortex varied from very poor to excellent. Traces of animal activity (rodent gnawing) were detected on 28.2% of individuals. It was for the first time that this process was recorded in such a high percentage in any Croatian skeletal sample. Several pathological conditions (indicators of subadult stress –cribra orbitalia and linear enamel hypoplasia, as well as indicator of non-specific infectious diseases – periostitis), were recorded. Relatively high frequencies of these pathologies (25.8% of cribra orbitalia, 60% of linear enamel hypoplasia, and 40% of non specific periostitis) suggest poor living conditions and low health standard. Some of the factors responsible could have been iron deficiency anaemia, infectious diseases, inadequate diet and parasitical infections. In this context, special attention was given to infectious diseases recorded in the sample. Possible and certain cases of leprosy were found in 11 individuals and tuberculosis in only one individual.

anthropological analysis, taphonomy, demography, infectious diseases

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