Posters

Bioarcheological Service, Museo delle Civiltà – Roma

During the Roman Imperial times, urban environments might have had a huge impact on city dwellers, who experienced harsh living conditions due to a process of increasing urbanization, population density, social inequalities as well as poor hygienic conditions. These issues have not been investigated adequately in the Italian Peninsula despite the fact that the plurality and diversity of urban centres across the peninsula could provide diverse insights into what living in a city might have entailed during those times. Specifically, these environmental conditions might have influenced the growth and health status of non-adults, who were the most vulnerable component of the society.

This study compares the health status of infants, children, and adolescents from two Italian port towns: Portus Romae and Velia. Although seemingly similar, these towns differ in their geographical locations, population sizes, intensity of port activities, and immigration rates. A total of 313 individuals from Portus Romae (Isola Sacra necropolis) and 189 individuals from Velia (Porta Marina necropolis) were investigated for the presence and severity of linear enamel hypoplasia, caries, scurvy, rickets, cribra cranii, and cribra orbitalia, periostitis, endocranial lesions, force traumas, and tuberculosis. The results indicate a generally poor health status in both samples, with Isola Sacra displaying more frequent cases of metabolic diseases (rickets and scurvy), periostitis, and traumatic lesions. The more complex urban environment of Portus Romae had a greater impact on the well-being of non-adults, as can be confirmed on the basis of the osteological record.

Keywords: town, children, Roman Imperial age.

In order to know the effects of industrialization in the Chilean child and adolescent population, macroscopic bone indicators associated with skeletal and oral pathologies were compared between two osteological samples. The first corresponds to a rural historical sample from the 19th century (Colección Cementerio Rinconada de Maipú), and the other, an urban sample from Santiago from the 20th century (Colección Subactual de Santiago). The negative effects of industrialization on child and adolescent health were directly evidenced in the urban sample of Santiago, with a high presence of some non-specific stress markers, for example, cribra orbitalia and porotic hyperostosis. Also an increase in the presence of infectious (34,8% v/s 44,9%), metabolic and deficit diseases (78,3% v/s 82%), as well as the appearance of congenital diseases (24%) compared to the rural historical sample. And finally, there is a greater presence of bone traumas. These differences could be associated with historical processes such as country-city migration and centralization of productive activities in a defined geographical area that occurred as a result of industrialization processes in Santiago de Chile in the first half of the 20th century.

Keywords: Bioarchaeology of childhood, Industralization and Health

Acknowledgments: Fondecyt 1160511, Universidad de Chile, and Museo Nacional de Historia Natural.

University of Bradford

Sheffield (South Yorkshire), known as the ‘Steel City’, was a pioneering city in the industrial revolution (18th-19th century) due to the steel manufacturing industry. The population rose from 46,000 to 135,000 in the first half of the 19th century alone. The drastic shift in the economy, environment and social organisation associated with industrialisation and the impact on health is well studied within London but little discussed elsewhere. This study aims to discuss the health of industrial era Sheffield through the study of two cemetery sites; Carver Street and Sheffield Cathedral. Osteological data was collected from the Sheffield Cathedral and Carver Street cemetery populations. This data was placed into comparative datasheets and interpreted collectively and individually. The comparable number of individuals excavated from both sites aids interpretation. Historical data regarding migration into the city and the socio-economic status of the areas in which the cemeteries are located will be used to provide context to the interpretation. Preliminary results suggest that differences in recording methods used between the two sites will impact which diseases can be accurately interpreted, mainly regarding dental disease. However, interpretations may be made regarding the comparison of infectious disease, stress markers and trauma. This research is ongoing. The interpretation of osteological data from Sheffield will provide an understanding of health in a city which is less discussed within osteological literature.

Acknowledgements: Data access, University of Sheffield.