INFERRING INDIGENOUS LIFE: THE HUMAN GROUP OF BAUCINA, SICILY (CA. VII–V CENTURIES BCE)

Abstract

The anthropological study of archaeological skeletal remains is a fundamental approach to defining the state of health and well-being of ancient populations. In this perspective, this work illustrates the first results of the study of a sample attributed to an indigenous Sicanian population from the necropolis of Baucina (Palermo, Sicily), a settlement dated between 7th–5th centuries BCE. The remains were found inside a large artificial cave tomb which is distinguished by its monumentality and number of occupants, which amounts to fifty-nine individuals, a significant number for a population of this period. Consequently, it was decided to proceed with the study of the sample, applying anthropological methodologies for the definition of demography, paleopathological aspects, entheseal changes and nonmetric traits. The results obtained provide important data concerning individual pathologies and variants of the skeletal morphology, both in adults and non-adults: for instance, individuals show osteomas, porous skeletal lesions, musculoskeletal stress markers. This study represents one of the first concerning the bio-anthropology sphere of Sicanian communities, reporting new insights regarding the lifestyle and health status in Baucina.