Background: The recovery of foetal remains is very sporadic in archaeology, especially due the scarce degree of bone mineralisation. This paper presents the singular archaeological discovery of a foetal tile preserving the bone remains, object of our anthropological examination. Materials and methods: The foetal tile was discovered during an archaeological excavation in a medieval site (Northern Italy). The tile was analysed by CT scan and later, human remains were anthropologically examined. Results: The archaeological investigation revealed a special ritual destined to foetuses while forensic anthropological analysis allowed estimating the gestational age near to 21–24 weeks.

A foetal tile from an archaeological site: anthropological investigation of human remains recovered in a medieval cemetery in Northern Italy

LICATA, MARTA;BADINO, PAOLA
2018-01-01

Abstract

Background: The recovery of foetal remains is very sporadic in archaeology, especially due the scarce degree of bone mineralisation. This paper presents the singular archaeological discovery of a foetal tile preserving the bone remains, object of our anthropological examination. Materials and methods: The foetal tile was discovered during an archaeological excavation in a medieval site (Northern Italy). The tile was analysed by CT scan and later, human remains were anthropologically examined. Results: The archaeological investigation revealed a special ritual destined to foetuses while forensic anthropological analysis allowed estimating the gestational age near to 21–24 weeks.
2018
foetal burial; Foetal osteological remains; medieval cemetery; Middle Ages; osteoarchaeology; Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health; Obstetrics and Gynecology
Licata, Marta; Rossetti, Chiara; Tosi, Adelaide; Badino, Paola
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11383/2064444
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