An anthropological and paleopathological analysis of a peculiar skeleton from the Necropolis of Zancle (1st century BCE – 1st century CE): a case report

Abstract

The work presents the results of the anthropological and paleopathological analysis carried out on human skeletal remains of an individual (T-173) found in a burial from the necropolis “sector 96”, Messina, Sicily, dating back to the Roman Empire (1^st century BCE – 1^st century CE). The study aimed to acquire the information necessary for the reconstruction of the biological profile. In fact, T173 is an adult male which is particularly interesting from a paleopathological point of view, showing skeletal anomalies from the cranial to the post-cranial skeleton probably caused by variations of genetic, neoplastic, articular and dental nature. Furthermore, the analyses have highlighted the possible cause of death, related to two perimortem traumatic lesions on parietal bones.