Cranial selection in the cremated remains of the Iron Age Golasecca Celtic Civilization (Northwestern Italy, 9-4th century BCE)

Dados Bibliográficos

ID4694431
AutoresOmar Larentis (0000-0001-9633-0669, CROP ‐ Centre of Research in Osteoarchaeology and Paleopathology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences University of Insubria Varese Lombardy Italy, autor correspondente), Ilaria Gorini (0000-0003-1913-9021, CROP ‐ Centre of Research in Osteoarchaeology and Paleopathology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences University of Insubria Varese Lombardy Italy), Daniela Patrizia Locatelli (Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio for the provinces of Como, Lecco, Monza‐Brianza, Pavia, Sondrio and Varese MiC ‐ Ministry of Culture Milan Lombardy Italy)
Ano2024
Volume34
Fascículo2
Data de publicação2024-03-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoInternational Journal of Osteoarchaeology (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1047-482X • E-ISSN: 1099-1212
EditoraWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/oa.3292
OpenAlexW4392884904
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas1
Referências citadas13

The Golasecca Celtic Civilization (GCC) developed in the Italian Iron Age, between the 9th and 4th centuries BCE, and is characterized by the predominant use of cremation as a funerary ritual in the Italian area. Reconstructing the steps of the cremation ritual in archaeology is a complex challenge, as many anthropic actions leave only faint traces in cremated remains. Within the funerary rituals of prehistoric and protohistoric Italy, the skull has received particular attention from numerous archaeological cultures and civilizations. The context of via Marconi 2020 (Sesto Calende, Varese, northern Italy) has allowed hinting at this practice also in GCC, through the anthropological analysis of cremated remains found in two different but spatially close tombs. The analysis of the cremated remains identified the selection of some elements of the skull of an adult individual and the post-cranium of a non-adult individual in the first tomb, and the presence of only the skull of the non-adult individual in the second tomb. The possibility of a ritual attention of the GCC reserved for the skull has been proven for the first time thanks to the analysis of these subjects. This work provides new data on funerary ritual behaviors of the GCC, allowing for a better understanding within the Italian and European panorama

Ancient history · Archaeology · Celtic languages · Civilization · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Computer Science · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · History · Paleopathology and ancient diseases