Warriors from the East. Skeletal evidence of warfare from a Lombard-Avar cemetery in Central Italy (Campochiaro,Molise, 6th–8th Century AD)

The early mediaeval cemetery of Campochiaro is located in Molise (Central Italy) and dates to the 6th–8th centuries AD. It consists of two inhumation areas: one at Morrione and the other at Vicenne. This site is important because of the contemporary presence of locals, Lombards and Avars of the steppes. Campochiaro was probably an outpost against the Byzantine army settled in southern Italy. Since no signs of a stable settlement or built-up area have been found, it seems the cemetery can be attributed to a semi-nomadic group. Many graves contained a man and his horse with the harness complex and typical Avar stirrups. The military nature of this settlement is shown by ostearchaeological evidence of warfare and violence on three skeletal individuals: n. 20, n. 102 and n. 108. Two of them exhibit lesions of the cranial vault probably produced by shock weapons in the fashion of the Byzantine armies: a spiked mace and a battle-axe. The cicatrisation of the wounds and the bony neo-formation suggest that the individuals survived these injuries for a long time. The third individual suffered from leprosy. He shows a long perpendicular cut in the left section of the frontal bone. The wound is clean and, because it is without traces of bony neo-formation, was probably a peri-mortem blow landed with a sharp weapon. The wound was not mortal, because it was very slight and probably produced only a slash. As ritual or magical practises and/or damage produced during the excavation or by the action of roots in the earth can be excluded, this individual was perhaps really a leper warrior who died in combat.     

Susceptibility measurements,optical and X-ray analysis to explain the origin of archaeological magnetic anomalies in Tavoliere lowland (Southern Italy)

Since 2002 a non-invasive investigation integrating aerial photography and high-resolution magnetometry has been carried out for reconstructing extensive ancient settlements in Tavoliere lowland (Southern Italy). Relevant magnetic anomalies were detected in all the surveyed sites allowing a precise mapping of the buried structures over more than 150 ha. Next to this research susceptibility measurements, PXRD, XRF and optical analysis were also performed in order to explain the origin of the notable magnetization contrast between the anthropogenic structures and the embedding materials, generating the measured signals. This last study was accomplished, in 2006, in Monte S. Vincenzo site, a vast Neolithic village where the remotely sensed data were also used to guide some direct inspection. Trial archaeological excavations brought to light parts of C-shaped compounds, providing complete information on the geometry and location of the sources of magnetic signals. Profiting by the archaeological feedback, the susceptibility contrast between the soil filling the ditches and the calcareous substratum was assessed in situ. A synthetic model based on this information was created and compared with the experimental data. The infilling material was also sampled for laboratory analysis: the presence of several magnetic minerals (pyroxenes, monometric magnetite, haematite) was ascertained. Furthermore optical analyses showed different types of volcanic and igneous products such as pumices, melanite garnets and lava fragments. Geomorphological and archaeometric evidence allowed us to relate these materials to activity of the Mt. Vesuvius volcano. Eventually their possible spatial distribution was inferred from recent studies on ash transportation and deposition during explosive activity.     

A case of cranial trepanation in a Roman necropolis (Cassino,Italy, 3rd century BC)

The aim of this study was to investigate an individual from a Cassino necropolis of the 3^rd century BC. The inhumation shows a rectangular wound between the sagittal and lambdoid sutures of the cranium. Furthermore a series of pathological traces on the post‐cranial skeleton are present. The trepanation of the skull seems intentional: probably a healed surgical procedure to treat a sword wound. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Microscope observations and DNA analysis of wine residues from Roman amphorae found in Ukraine and from bottles of recent Tuscan wines

Morphological analysis by light and electron microscopy was conducted on wine residues from second century Roman amphorae found in Myrmekion (Ukraine). The results of the archaeological samples were compared with residues formed in bottles of wine from Tuscan vineyards, corked between 1969 and 1977 without filtration and enzyme or biochemical processing. Staining and histochemical observation of the archaeological and recent residues detected nucleic acids. Molecular analysis was also performed using nuclear microsatellite SSRs markers having high polymorphism to study genetic relationships. Genotype profiles of archaeological and recent residues were compared with contemporary cultivars in a data bank. Low homology of genotype profiles of all residues, and oral evidence, confirmed the presence of autochthonous varieties in recent wines and enabled indirect assessment of varieties detected in the archaeological material. The results confirmed that the archaeological material could be related to Sangiovese and indicated Roman wine trade as far afield as Ukraine, whereas the recent residues provided evidence of disappearing native Tuscany cultivars like Gorgottesco, Mammolo, Verdello, Rossone and Tenerone, used for table wines until the late seventies.