During the 6th archaeological excavation campaign performed at the “Pieve di Pava” (San Giovanni d’Asso, Siena, Italy) in the summer of 2009, a privileged stone burial of a single individual (US 2378) was discovered, covered by a monolithic slab and placed in front of the altar. The tomb is about 160 cm long, 40 cm large and over 70 cm deep. The skeletal remains of a young male (18-20 years), not in anatomical connection, were found on the bottom floor of the tomb. The skeleton, submitted to 14C dating, revealed a date between 650 and 688 AD. Stable isotope analysis (18O, 13C, 15N) attested that he was a member of the local population, whose diet was rather rich in animal proteins. We are clearly in front of a secondary deposition, most likely the skeleton of an eminent personage (a saint?), transported to the church in a sack, as clearly demonstrated by the circular delimitation of bones. The relic was probably used for the new consecration of the church, following the restoration works of the 8th century. The paleopathological study diagnosed a case of acromesomelic dysplasia, a congenital anomaly with disproportion of the limbs: short enlarged distal segments (radius-ulna and tibia), almost normal proximal segments (humerus and femur), short stature of about 150 cm, and bilateral fibular agenesis. Tibiae malformation and fibulae agenesis caused bilateral talipes valgus, with major walking problems. Severe enthesopathies in the upper limbs indicate that he made use of crutches.
Privileged burial in the Pava Pieve (Siena, 8th century AD)
FORNACIARI, GINO
2012-01-01
Abstract
During the 6th archaeological excavation campaign performed at the “Pieve di Pava” (San Giovanni d’Asso, Siena, Italy) in the summer of 2009, a privileged stone burial of a single individual (US 2378) was discovered, covered by a monolithic slab and placed in front of the altar. The tomb is about 160 cm long, 40 cm large and over 70 cm deep. The skeletal remains of a young male (18-20 years), not in anatomical connection, were found on the bottom floor of the tomb. The skeleton, submitted to 14C dating, revealed a date between 650 and 688 AD. Stable isotope analysis (18O, 13C, 15N) attested that he was a member of the local population, whose diet was rather rich in animal proteins. We are clearly in front of a secondary deposition, most likely the skeleton of an eminent personage (a saint?), transported to the church in a sack, as clearly demonstrated by the circular delimitation of bones. The relic was probably used for the new consecration of the church, following the restoration works of the 8th century. The paleopathological study diagnosed a case of acromesomelic dysplasia, a congenital anomaly with disproportion of the limbs: short enlarged distal segments (radius-ulna and tibia), almost normal proximal segments (humerus and femur), short stature of about 150 cm, and bilateral fibular agenesis. Tibiae malformation and fibulae agenesis caused bilateral talipes valgus, with major walking problems. Severe enthesopathies in the upper limbs indicate that he made use of crutches.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
