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Abstract (page 366) from the Abstract Book of the 11th International Symposium of Biomolecular Archeology.
Understanding the Complex Social Relations in Pre-Roman Umbrian Communities with an Integrated Approach of Bioarchaeology
In pre-Roman times, Central Italy witnessed the rise of various populations characterized by distinctive languages and traditions. Despite numerous works on the Etruscans and the Latins, little is known about the Umbrians. This research aims to fill this gap in bioarchaeological research by examining the necropolis of Piazza d'Armi in Spoleto (Umbria), dated to the 8th-6th century BCE. This necropolis is a unique opportunity to understand the complex social structures of an Umbrian pre-Roman population, due to the rich grave goods found in the burials, particularly those associated with women, children, and possibly foreigners.
Both morphological and morphometric methods, applied prior to molecular analysis, confirmed that the sample consisted of 17 non-adults and 21 adults. Sr, N and C stable isotopes data of 36 individuals and faunal remains have been used to evaluate mobility and dietary patterns, considering potential sex and age differences.
Forty samples (petrous bones and/or teeth) were collected for palaeogenomic analyses.
Double-stranded genomic libraries were sequenced in depth to obtain low-coverage genome-wide data and to assess the degree of DNA conservation. Specific bioinformatics pipelines for ancient DNA have been used to identify ancestry variants, informative kinship and pathological markers.
Combined bioarchaeological approaches will strengthen hypothesis related to the origins of the people from Spoleto, their family relationships, social links and human mobility (particularly of women and their children), based on excavation findings.
This research is funded by MUR “PRIN 2022 PNRR- Prot. P2022LATB9, “Powerful women and outstanding children in Pre-Roman Umbria: Understanding inclusive societies with foreign peoples through an integrative approach of molecular anthropology, archaeology and virtual design”.
Presentation poster
In pre-Roman times, Central Italy witnessed the rise of various populations characterized by distinctive languages and traditions. Despite numerous works on the Etruscans and the Latins, little is known about the Umbrians. This research aims to fill this gap in bioarchaeological research by examining the necropolis of Piazza d'Armi in Spoleto (Umbria), dated to the 8th-6th century BCE. This necropolis is a unique opportunity to understand the complex social structures of an Umbrian pre-Roman population, due to the rich grave goods found in the burials, particularly those associated with women, children, and possibly foreigners.
Both morphological and morphometric methods, applied prior to molecular analysis, confirmed that the sample consisted of 17 non-adults and 21 adults. Sr, N and C stable isotopes data of 36 individuals and faunal remains have been used to evaluate mobility and dietary patterns, considering potential sex and age differences.
Forty samples (petrous bones and/or teeth) were collected for palaeogenomic analyses.
Double-stranded genomic libraries were sequenced in depth to obtain low-coverage genome-wide data and to assess the degree of DNA conservation. Specific bioinformatics pipelines for ancient DNA have been used to identify ancestry variants, informative kinship and pathological markers.
Combined bioarchaeological approaches will strengthen hypothesis related to the origins of the people from Spoleto, their family relationships, social links and human mobility (particularly of women and their children), based on excavation findings.
This research is funded by MUR “PRIN 2022 PNRR- Prot. P2022LATB9, “Powerful women and outstanding children in Pre-Roman Umbria: Understanding inclusive societies with foreign peoples through an integrative approach of molecular anthropology, archaeology and virtual design”.
Presentation poster
