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Updated: May 21, 2026

Optimized Bone Sampling Protocols for the Retrieval of Ancient DNA from Archaeological Remains
Published on: November 30, 2021
Palaeopathology of human remains from the Roman Imperial Age
Simona Minozzi1, Paola Catalano, Carla Caldarini
1Department of Oncology, Transplants and Advanced Technologies in Medicine, and Division of Palaeopathology, History of Medicine and Bioethics, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. simo.min@tiscali.it
Abstract:
The increasing attention of archaeological and anthropological research towards palaeopathological studies has allowed to focus the examination of many skeletal samples on this aspect and to evaluate the presence of many diseases afflicting ancient populations. This paper describes the most interesting diseases observed in skeletal samples from five necropolises found in urban and suburban areas of Rome during archaeological excavations in the last decades, and dating back to the Imperial Age. The diseases observed were grouped into the following categories: articular diseases, traumas, infections, metabolic or nutritional diseases, congenital diseases and tumors, and some examples are reported for each group. Although extensive epidemiological investigation in ancient skeletal records is impossible, palaeopathology allowed highlighting the spread of numerous illnesses, many of which can be related to the life and health conditions of the Roman population.
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