191-198

A bioarchaeological approach to the human osteological material from the mycenaean cemetery of Spaliareika, Lousika, Achaia

Σύμμεικτα

• Παπαθανασίου, Αναστασία

The human osteological remains recovered in four chamber tombs, which belong to a LH IIIA-LH IIIC cemetery excavated in 1990 by M. Petropoulos of the VI Ephor- ate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, are analysed here. The material consists of the commingled and fragmented skeletal remains of a minimum number of 25 individuals. Of them, 21 are adults, of which seven have been identified as male and eight as female, and four are subadults under the age of 18 years, while there are no individuals under the age of four years. The adult to subadult ratio implies differential mortuary treatment for the subadult segment of the population. The mean adult age is 35.7 years. The mean height for males is 167 cm and for females 157 cm, while forthe entire population it is 158 cm. The pathological conditions observed on dental remains include a relatively high prevalence of pre-mortem tooth loss 26.1% (24/92 teeth) and linear enamel hypoplasias 10.8% (10/92 teeth) and low prevalence of caries 3.3% (3/92 teeth). Pathological conditions observed on skeletal remains include a relatively high prevalence 28.6% of anaemic conditions probably of nutritional origin and a high prevalence of periostitis 24.0%. Osteoarthritis and musculoskeletal stress markers are also common. One case of healed cranial fracture was observed. Finally, a high prevalence 36.4% of extrasutural cranial bones was observed, implying probable genetic affinity.

• History and Archaeology

• Αρχαιολογία

νεκροταφεία, ανθρώπινα λείψανα, μυκηναϊκή εποχή, Αχαΐα

Περιέχει εικόνες, σχέδια και βιβλιογραφία