Tabu Search (TS)

Coinciding with the first phase of built architecture at the site, Phase 1 burials from Castel- laccio Europarco date to the 4th-3rd century BC (figure 4.6b). In an area about 24 by 5 m, there were 14 inhumations, 1 bustum (in-situ cremation), and 3 pits with no human remains. All were simple pit burials with the exception of tomb 64, which contained a child under 2 years of age whose grave had a basalt block covering and included faunal remains from a chicken and a pig, possibly indicating the rites of silicernium and porca praesentanea (Toynbee, 1971; Lindsay, 2000; Grandi and Pantano, 2007). Osteological analysis in the field led researchers to conclude that Phase 1 adults, almost all of whom were men, had skeletal indications of hard la- bor. In Phase 1, I studied 17 individuals, which represents the number the excavators identified in the field plus commingled remains of an additional three individuals in two graves. These extra skeletal remains were likely too small (in the case of a fetal skeleton) or too few for the excavators to calculate a proper MNI in the field.

(a) ET70, 41-50-year-old female. Photograph from Buccellato et al. (2008, p. 18).

(b) ET31, 3-4-year-old child. Photo- graph from Grandi and Pantano (2007).

Figure 4.7: Anomalous Castellaccio Europarco Burials

gravel and lined with walls of opus incertum. During this phase, the cemetery area, located be- tween the Via Laurentina and its side street, was about 53 by 14 m and held 11 cremations (two of which were busta) and 14 burials (nine adults, four children, and one unknown), for a total of 25 individuals (figure 4.6b). Most burials in this phase are simple, but there were two

enchytrismos infant burials, and one adult woman was buried with her arm partially inserted

into a libation tube (Toynbee, 1971, p. 51) (figure 4.7a). Researchers noted trauma, infec- tions, and metabolic issues in their palaeopathological examination of the skeletons in the field (Grandi and Pantano, 2007). Of the 14 burials recorded, one was devoid of skeletal remains, and one was not available for my study. By my count, there were 12 cremations rather than 11, likely a typographical error in the field report. From Phase 2, then, I studied 11 skeletons.

The number of individuals examined in the two earlier phases is quite small, particularly once the groups are sampled for chemical analysis, and there are no published comparanda for

these time periods. Although individuals from these pre-Imperial time periods were thoroughly studied, the data obtained do not contribute significantly to the main thrust of this project on mobility and migration to the Imperial capital. As such, the basic demographic and isotope information gathered from the skeletons from Phases 1 and 2 at Castellaccio Europarco is presented separately in appendix B.

The Imperial burial context dates to the second half of the 1st to the last quarter of the 2nd century, or about 50-175 AD. The cemetery area still measured about 53 by 14 m and was more intensively used in the western part, as Imperial-period graves were superimposed on previous ones, either accidentally or intentionally. Of the 50 burials in this phase, 45 were inhumations, 3 were cremations (two busta), and 2 had no human remains (figure 4.6b). In large part, the inhumations were simple pit graves, but there were a few cases of cappuccina style, enchytrismos, and basalt block graves. Artifacts were few and included common pottery,

unguentaria, personal objects such as fibulae, and bronze coins placed in the mouths of several

individuals. Of the 45 inhumations, three individuals were buried prone, a child and a male and a female both in their late teens.15 _{The burial of the child is especially noteworthy as he or she}

holds a chicken egg in the left hand, possibly as a symbol of rebirth (figure 4.7b).16 I studied all 45 available skeletons from this phase.17

There is no historical or epigraphical evidence naming the individuals buried at Castel- laccio Europarco. Because of the simple grave types and the lack of numerous grave goods, excavators interpret this necropolis as containing individuals from the lower classes. Phase 1 of this rural cemetery was possibly associated with the rustic building, as the torcularium would

15_{Buccellato and colleagues (2008) note that the male had evidence of tuberculosis on his skeleton. My data} do not support this conclusion, however.

16_{Only one similar burial has been found in Rome, that of a child in the necropolis under St. Peter’s, although it} does not seem to have been published academically. See, however, the Associated Press story, “Newly excavated Roman necropolis is like a ‘Pompeii of cemeteries’,” October 9, 2006.

17_{Skeletons from this site were also labeled with their “tomba” numbers in the field. In order to distinguish} these from individuals at Casal Bertone, I use the abbreviation ET followed by the grave number. Some graves contained the remains of more than one person. In the case of multiple burials, I append a letter. Each skeleton therefore has a unique identifying letter-number combination.

have necessitated laborers to process the grapes or olives. It is unclear, however, if the other phases of burial were associated with any other architecture in the area.

4.4.2

Sex, Age, and Stature

The minimum number of individuals at Castellaccio Europarco thus totals 45 from the Im- perial time period. The basic demographic information that was collected from these skeletons included an estimation of the age of every individual, as well as the sex and height of post- pubescent individuals.

Figure 4.8 displays the estimated age at death of the Castellaccio Europarco population. Significant infant and child mortality is not unexpected, and those who made it to adulthood did not live past 50. This pattern is not unusual for Rome (Parkin, 1992). Surprisingly, Castellaccio Europarco presented more evidence of infant mortality in the 0-5-year age range than did Casal Bertone, but it is unclear if this is related to excavation and recovery methods, burial context, or taphonomic processes. Male Female 11-15 1 - 16-20 3 - 21-30 5 1 31-40 8 2 41-50 4 4 51-60 - - 61-70 - - Adult 3 - Total 24 7 Sex Ratio 77.4% 22.6%

Table 4.4: Sex of Castellaccio Europarco Adults and Age at Death

Table 4.4 shows the number of individuals of either sex and the sex ratio for each phase. Males outnumber females 3 to 1, a statistically significant difference (χ2

= 29.16, p <0.0001). As with Casal Bertone, it is unclear if this underrepresentation of females is related to the cultural context of burial or to taphonomic processes affecting female skeletons.

0 5 10 15 20 25 0-5 6-10 11-15 16-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 Adult Age Category P ercen ta g e o f P o p u la ti o n

Male Female Indeterminate

Figure 4.8: Estimated Age at Death and Sex of the Castellaccio Europarco Population

Finally, the average height was calculated for those adults whose sex could be determined and who presented at least one intact long bone. There were 19 males and 7 females whose height could be estimated. Average stature estimates are broken down by sex and age category in table 4.5.

Males from Castellaccio Europarco had the same average stature as males from Casal Bertone, 167 cm. Females from the suburban site, however, had a stature average 7 cm shorter than the females from the periurban site. The difference in stature between the sexes at Castel- laccio Europarco is 17 cm. This dissimilarity will be further investigated below in comparison with other Imperial skeletal populations.

Females Males 21-30 139 (n=1) 169 (n=5) 31-40 144 (n=2) 164 (n=8) 41-50 154 (n=4) 165 (n=4) Adult* — 173 (n=2) Mean 150 (n=7) 167 (n=19)

Table 4.5: Average Height (in cm) of Castellaccio Europarco Population by Sex and Age

*The age correction factor was not used on these stature estimates.