A5058705639- Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
- Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
- Paleopathology and ancient diseases
- Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology and History
- Archaeological and Geological Studies
- Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies
- Archaeological Research and Protection
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Ancient Egypt and Archaeology
- Archaeology and Historical Studies
- 3D Surveying and Cultural Heritage
- Eurasian Exchange Networks
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Historical and Archaeological Studies
- Ancient Near East History
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Historical Studies and Socio-cultural Analysis
- Forensic and Genetic Research
- Ancient and Medieval Archaeology Studies
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Italian Social Issues and Migration
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
Museo Egizio
2020-2024
Washington University in St. Louis
2013-2015
Università degli Studi della Tuscia
2007-2015
Sapienza University of Rome
2004-2013
Cattle pastoralism is an important trait of African cultures. Ethnographic studies describe the central role played by domestic cattle within many societies, highlighting its social and ideological value well beyond mere function as 'walking larder'. Historical depth this legacy has been repeatedly assessed in archaeological perspective, mostly emphasizing a continental vision. Nevertheless, in-depth site-specific studies, with few exceptions, are lacking. Despite long tradition...
Donkeys transformed human history as essential beasts of burden for long-distance movement, especially across semi-arid and upland environments. They remain insufficiently studied despite globally expanding providing key support to low- middle-income communities. To elucidate their domestication history, we constructed a comprehensive genome panel 207 modern 31 ancient donkeys, well 15 wild equids. We found strong phylogeographic structure in donkeys that supports single Africa ~5000 BCE,...
Abstract This paper provides results from a suite of analyses made on human dental material the Late Palaeolithic to Neolithic strata cave site Grotta Continenza situated in Fucino Basin Abruzzo region central Italy. The available remains this provide unique possibility study ways which forager versus farmer lifeways affected odonto-skeletal remains. main aim our is understand palaeodietary patterns and their changes over time as reflected teeth. These involve review metrics oral...
The domestic cat (Felis catus) descends from the African wildcat subspecies Felis lybica lybica. Its global distribution alongside humans testifies to its successful adaptation anthropogenic environments. Uncertainty remains regarding whether cats originated in Levant, Egypt or elsewhere natural range, and on timing circumstances of their dispersal into Europe. By analysing 87 ancient modern genomes, we demonstrate that did not spread Europe with Neolithic farmers, as previously thought....
The abundant faunal remains from the Takarkori rock shelter in Tadrart Acacus region of southwestern Libya are described. material that covers period between 10,200 to 4650 years cal BP illustrates more humid environmental conditions Central Sahara during early and middle Holocene times. Particular attention is focussed on aquatic fauna shows marked diachronic changes related increasing aridification. This reflected decreasing amount fish compared mammals and, within fauna, by through time...
Although the amount of data on Italian Copper Age has increased significantly in last decades, little is known about relationship between humans and environment. Material culture suggests occurrence significant social interactions throughout Peninsula, while funerary practices indicate that groups were strongly rooted their territories. Here, we attempt to define relations within by investigating one main culturally-constructed aspects a society: dietary practices. These will be addressed...
We retrieved 34 medieval ovicaprine remains, from three archaeological sites of central Italy dating to about 1000 years old, and analyzed them using mitochondrial DNA. compared the reconstructed haplogroups with modern sheep samples Europe Middle East sequences literature. In sheep, haplogroup HA is present in countries access Mediterranean close domestication center, whereas it very rare or absent rest Europe. The HB was predominant ancient (90%), found at 10%. Ancient match distribution...
Cremation 168 from the second half of 8 th century BCE (Pithekoussai’s necropolis, Ischia Island, Italy), better known as Tomb Nestor’s Cup, is widely considered one most intriguing discoveries in Mediterranean Pre-Classic archaeology. A drinking cup, which Tomb’s name derives, bears earliest surviving examples written Greek, representing oldest Homeric poetry ever recovered. According to previous osteological analyses, Cup associated with cremated remains a juvenile, aged approximately...
This paper reports the archaeobotanical and archaeozoological data from a disposal pit, whose use started after partial closure of staircase, mortar surface within former porch in Santi Quattro Coronati complex Rome, Italy.The two contexts were Early Modern Age, when served as cardinal seat.The element that distinguishes other contemporaneous is presence New World species, until now only hypothesized based on letter sent by first resident bishop Santo Domingo to Lorenzo Pucci, then with...
When archaeologists discuss ‘ancestor cults’ or veneration’, what this might entail in practice usually remains vague, leading to charges that the concept of ‘ancestors’ is often applied generically. In article, authors combine bioarchaeological, taphonomic, radiocarbon, and isotopic studies explore ritual selective retention, curation, deposition a group human crania mandibles. Between 5500–5400 bc , Neolithic people at Masseria Candelaro (Puglia, Italy) deposited broken mandibles from...
Resumen
Cattle remains (bones and teeth) of both roman medieval age were collected in the archaeological site Ferento (Viterbo, Italy) with aim extracting characterising nucleic acids. Procedures to minimize contamination modern DNA help ancient (aDNA) preservation adopted. Different techniques extract aDNA (like Phenol/chloroform extraction) from bovine bones tested identify method that applies peculiar characteristics study site. Currently, investigation is mainly based on mtDNA, due ease...
The Cinta senese is a pig breed, highly esteemed for its meat and derived products, characterized by black coat with typical white "belt" documented scant iconography, since the 13th-14th century in Italy. A piece of pottery showing was found Graffignano castle (Northern Latium, Italy) dated 15th-16th centuries, spurring us to investigate diet inhabitants. Ancient DNA analysis carried out on 21 specimens three nuclear SNPs: (1) g.43597545C>T, KIT gene, informative identification breed; (2)...
The study of plant and animal remains from archaeological sites provides important evidence about past human diets habits: this includes species selection, food preparation, consumption disposal practices. Furthermore, such information may also provide inferences social status. Data refuse features identified in some elite contexts central Italy – a high-status residence Celleno Vecchio (Viterbo) the Baglioni-Santacroce castle Graffignano (Viterbo), both northern Latium, as well Santi...
Riassunto - L'analisi archeozoologica dei numerosissimi reperti raccolti nel sito del Neolitico Antico di Rendina Melfi (VI-meta V mill. a.C.) e stata affiancata dalle analisi DNA effettuate su resti ovini ( Ovis aries ) bovini Bos taurus/primigenius ), in un laboratorio apposito con criteri specifici, volti a evitare la contaminazione moderno. E stato estratto il da 23 totale. A causa dello conservazione dell'eta stessi, possibile amplificare sequenziare mitocondriale (mtDNA) solo reperto...
During the 2004 excavation campaign at Ferento (Viterbo), in Sector 1, skeletal remains of a dog, still partially articulated, were recovered pit covered with block peperino tuff, located commercial area, close to crossroads. Contextual evidences indicate Late Antique date for burial. The individual presented several pathologies on bones. analysis bone surface modifications allowed detect rib and thoracic vertebra traces that are likely referable killing animal that, together location...
Summary - This research is part of a larger project on the study faunal remains collected during excavations at Ss. Quattro Coronati Monastery (Rome). Such cover wide chronological range, from Early Middle Ages to 17 th century, when different religious communities lived successively in this area. The present work will focus sample materials referable beginning century monastery was occupied by Augustinian nuns and orphans they were taking care of. data obtained site allow add further...