Ricci, P, Mongelli, V, Vitiello, A, Campana, S, Sirignano, C, Rubino, M, Fornaciari, G and Lubritto, C (2012) The privileged burial of the Pava Pieve (Siena, 8th Century AD). Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 26 (20). 2393 -2398. ISSN 0951-4198

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Abstract

RATIONALE
The 6th archaeological excavation campaign performed at the 'Pieve di Pava' (San Giovanni d'Asso, Siena, Italy) unearthed a privileged stone burial of a single individual (US 2378), covered by a monolithic slab and placed in front of an altar. The skeletal remains of a young male (18–20 years old), not in anatomical connection, were found at the bottom floor of a tomb (160 cm long, 40 cm large and over 70 cm deep).

METHODS
A multidisciplinary study has been carried out concerning that privileged bone burial. The study combines paleopathology studies, stable isotope palaeodietary reconstruction, radiocarbon dating and archaeological analyses.

RESULTS
14 C dating of the skeleton revealed a date between 650 and 688 AD. Stable isotope analysis (δ18O, δ13C, δ15N) attested that he was probably a member of the local population, whose diet was rather rich in animal proteins. The paleopathological study diagnosed a case of acromesomelic dysplasia, a congenital anomaly with disproportion of the limbs. Archaeological evidence regarding the circular delimitation of the bones suggested that the skeleton was a secondary deposition, transported to the church in a sack.

CONCLUSIONS
We argue that the relic was used for the re‐consecration of the church, following the restoration work in the 8th century. We conclude that the skeleton belonged to an eminent personage (e.g., either the member of a local elite family or a saint).

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: The final published version can be accessed online at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/rcm.6302
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GB Physical geography
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
Divisions: Faculty of Natural Sciences > School of Geography, Geology and the Environment
Related URLs:
Depositing User: Symplectic
Date Deposited: 15 May 2018 08:32
Last Modified: 30 May 2019 13:42
URI: https://eprints.keele.ac.uk/id/eprint/4845

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