Biological histories of an elite

Skeletons from the Royal Chapel of Lugo Cathedral (NW Spain)

Bibliographic Data

ID4635585
AuthorsOlalla López‐costa (0000-0002-6499-226X, Group EcoPast (GI‐1553), Area of Archaeology, Department of History Universidade de Santiago de Compostela Santiago de Compostela Spain, corresponding author), Gundula Müldner (0000-0002-4513-9263, Department of Archaeology University of Reading Reading UK), Kerstin Lidén (0000-0002-5911-9503, Archaeological Research Laboratory, Wallenberglaboratoriet Stockholm University Stockholm Sweden)
Year2021
Volume31
Issue5
Pages941-956
Publication date2021-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Osteoarchaeology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1047-482X • E-ISSN: 1099-1212
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/oa.3011
OpenAlexW3171805697
LanguageEN
Citations received11
References cited57

This study aims to reconstruct the biological histories of the people buried at the Royal Chapel of Lugo Cathedral, an important religious center of NW Spain, by using anthropological, geochemical, and historical perspectives. We conducted a macroscopic and radiographic study on 955 skeletal elements, a multi-isotope (δ13Ccol, δ15N, δ34Scol, δ13Cap, δ18Oap) analysis of human (n = 12) and animal (n = 4) samples, and the study of 1407 documents from the cathedral archives. There was a minimum of 15 individuals, including six subadults (<7 years), seven mature males, and one possible female. Several traumatic healed injuries, a pelvis osteochondroma, and a case of DISH have been detected. Males were enriched in15N (up to 15.7‰, Δhuman-animal avg = 5.1‰) suggesting consumption of animal protein including freshwater fish. Cathedral documents reflectforapayments in the form of rye, eggs, poultry, sheep, pigs, and eels as well as the hiring of two physicians. All individuals, except one, lived between the 14thand the early 15thcenturies and show characteristics of high standard of living. Males were likely members of the cathedral-chaplains, administrators, sacristans, but not bishops-or noblemen relatives of the former according to preserved documents. Isotopic and paleopathological study suggest that they had an active and traveling life and at least one of them had connections with Central Spain. Children were local and possibly connected to the nobility. Lugo Cathedral is a prime example about the possibilities of transdisciplinary research in the identification of lifestyle in past populations

Ancient history · Archaeology · Art · Art history · Biology · Bishops · Chapel · Enzootic · Geography · Nobility · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · History · Paleopathology and ancient diseases · Paleontology