The interpretation of porosity on the ectocranial surface (cribra cranii) and on the orbital roofs (cribra orbitalia) is a debated topic, as regard to the etiological factors implied in their onset and to the relationship among them. In this research, cribra cranii (CC) and cribra orbitalia (CO) were investigated in various samples from the Italian peninsula across time, from the Roman age to the post-medieval period (1st- 17th century CE) with the aim at comparing their distribution and prevalence in different socioeconomic contexts and among groups (by sex and age) diachronically. The relationship between the two alterations was evaluated. The sample under study (N= 353) was recovered in five Italian sites as follows: two Roman Imperial age urban (n=105) and suburban (n=60) necropolises from Rome, a late antique suburban necropolis from Pisa (n=66), a medieval rural cemetery from Siena (n=85), and a modern period urban cemetery from Lucca (n=37); the last three sites are located in Tuscany. The porosities were macroscopically evaluated in terms of severity and by reparative stage. Data analysis by sex and age indicated no significant difference between males and females in the prevalence of both CC (M=67.4%, F=60.0%) and CO (M=58.9%, F=53.3%), while significant differences were evidenced between adults and non-adults in some necropolis and in the total sample. CC were more frequent in adults (63.4%) than in non-adults (50.0%); CO showed an opposite trend (adults=55.7%; non-adults=73.7%). Among the affected individuals, the 36.5% of adults showed both CC and CO , while this association in non-adults was higher (60.5%). These results seem to confirm the absence of a direct relationship between CC and CO in the adult subsample. The diachronic comparison showed slight differences limited to a few historical periods.
Cranial porosity: distribution and relationship between cribra cranii and cribra orbitalia across time in Italy
Minozzi S.;Riccomi G.;Fornaciari A.;Giuffra V.
2023-01-01
Abstract
The interpretation of porosity on the ectocranial surface (cribra cranii) and on the orbital roofs (cribra orbitalia) is a debated topic, as regard to the etiological factors implied in their onset and to the relationship among them. In this research, cribra cranii (CC) and cribra orbitalia (CO) were investigated in various samples from the Italian peninsula across time, from the Roman age to the post-medieval period (1st- 17th century CE) with the aim at comparing their distribution and prevalence in different socioeconomic contexts and among groups (by sex and age) diachronically. The relationship between the two alterations was evaluated. The sample under study (N= 353) was recovered in five Italian sites as follows: two Roman Imperial age urban (n=105) and suburban (n=60) necropolises from Rome, a late antique suburban necropolis from Pisa (n=66), a medieval rural cemetery from Siena (n=85), and a modern period urban cemetery from Lucca (n=37); the last three sites are located in Tuscany. The porosities were macroscopically evaluated in terms of severity and by reparative stage. Data analysis by sex and age indicated no significant difference between males and females in the prevalence of both CC (M=67.4%, F=60.0%) and CO (M=58.9%, F=53.3%), while significant differences were evidenced between adults and non-adults in some necropolis and in the total sample. CC were more frequent in adults (63.4%) than in non-adults (50.0%); CO showed an opposite trend (adults=55.7%; non-adults=73.7%). Among the affected individuals, the 36.5% of adults showed both CC and CO , while this association in non-adults was higher (60.5%). These results seem to confirm the absence of a direct relationship between CC and CO in the adult subsample. The diachronic comparison showed slight differences limited to a few historical periods.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
