• Anthropology
• Basso Medioevo
• Bioarcheologia
• Late Middle Ages
• Paleopathology
• Paoleopatologia
• Pisa
• Pisa
• Toscana
• Tuscany

Lo scavo di San Sisto a Pisa ha interessato il giardino collocato immediatamente a sud della chiesa eponima ed ha portato a definire una complessa stratificazione dall’età romana all’età contemporanea. L’indagine ha permesso tra le altre evidenze di definire la struttura del chiostro della Canonica di San Sisto, che venne impiantato nel XII secolo, e le relative fasi cimiteriali. Questo lavoro di tesi presenta i risultati ottenuti tramite lo studio bioarcheologico e paleopatologico di 36 individui sepolti nell'area 30 000, risalenti al XIV secolo e situati nella porzione sud-est del chiostro canonicale. Lo studio antropologico ha riguardato la determinazione del sesso, dell'età alla morte e della statura degli individui; l'esame degli indicatori stress scheletrici (statura, cribra cranii e cribra orbitalia, reazione periostale) e dentali (ipoplasia dello smalto), delle patologie scheletriche, nonché delle patologie dentoalveolari (come carie, ascessi, riassorbimento alveolare, perdite ante mortem, tartaro e malposizioni), delle affezioni articolari (artropatie) e delle entesopatie. L'obiettivo è ricostruire le condizioni di vita e di salute, nonché le attività svolte dai soggetti analizzati. Il campione è costituito da 23 maschi, 4 femmine, 2 individui di sesso non determinabile e 7 bambini. La metà dei soggetti presenta un'età alla morte compresa tra i 30 e i 39 anni. In termini di statura, le donne presentano una media staturale che si colloca nelle fasce tipiche della popolazione medievale, mentre i maschi risultano al di sotto della media. La cribra cranii interessa il 95% del campione, la cribra orbitalia l'89% e la reazione periostale il 100%. L'ipoplasia dello smalto è riscontrata nel 90% dei casi. Per quanto riguarda le patologie dentali, il 70% degli individui soffre di carie, il 21,1% presenta ascessi, mentre il 78% degli alveoli mostra riassorbimento alveolare e il 45% degli individui ha subito perdita dentaria durante la vita. Inoltre, il 40% dei soggetti è affetto da sinusite mascellare. L’artrosi rilevata è di grado piuttosto lieve, le entesopatie colpiscono principalmente gli arti superiori e le fratture (rilevate soprattutto sulle coste) sembrano riconducibili ad attività lavorative.
Pertanto, emerge un quadro di condizioni di salute non ottimali, soprattutto durante le fasi giovanili, coerente con una popolazione urbana che vive un periodo di crisi e tracolli economici, subendo gli effetti della cosiddetta "urban penalty".

The excavation at San Sisto in Pisa involved the garden located immediately south of the eponymous church and led to the definition of a complex stratification from the Roman period to the contemporary era. The investigation allowed, among other findings, the delineation of the structure of the cloister of the Canonica of San Sisto, which was established in the 12th century, along with its related burial phases. This thesis work presents the results obtained through the bioarchaeological and paleopathological study of 36 individuals buried in area 30 000, dating back to the 14th century and located in the southeast portion of the canonical cloister.
The anthropological study involved determining the sex, age at death, and stature of the skeletal individuals, examining skeletal stress indicators (stature, cribra cranii, cribra orbitalia, periosteal reactions), dental indicators (enamel hypoplasia), skeletal pathologies, as well as dentoalveolar pathologies (such as cavities, abscesses, alveolar resorption, ante mortem tooth loss, calculus and malpositions), joint conditions (arthropathies), and enthesopathies. The goal is to reconstruct the living conditions, health, and activities of the analyzed subjects.
The sample consists of 23 males, 4 females, 2 individuals of undetermined sex, and 7 children. Half of the subjects had an age at death between 30 and 39 years. In terms of stature, women had an average height within the typical range for the medieval population, while males were below average. Cribra cranii affected 95% of the sample, cribra orbitalia 89%, and periosteal reactions 100%. Enamel hypoplasia was found in 90% of cases. Regarding dental pathologies, 70% of individuals had cavities, 21.1% had abscesses, while 78% of alveoli showed alveolar resorption, and 45% of individuals experienced tooth loss during their lifetime. Additionally, 40% of the subjects suffered from maxillary sinusitis. The observed arthrosis was relatively mild, enthesopathies mainly affected the upper limbs, and fractures (mostly on the ribs) appeared to be related to occupational activities. Therefore, a picture of suboptimal health conditions emerges, especially during the early stages of life, consistent with an urban population experiencing a period of economic crisis and decline, enduring the effects of the so-called "urban penalty."

The excavation at San Sisto in Pisa involved the garden located immediately south of the eponymous church and led to the definition of a complex stratification from the Roman period to the contemporary era. The investigation allowed, among other findings, the delineation of the structure of the cloister of the Canonica of San Sisto, which was established in the 12th century, along with its related burial phases. This thesis work presents the results obtained through the bioarchaeological and paleopathological study of 36 individuals buried in area 30 000, dating back to the 14th century and located in the southeast portion of the canonical cloister.
The anthropological study involved determining the sex, age at death, and stature of the individuals, examining skeletal stress indicators (stature, cribra cranii, cribra orbitalia, periosteal reactions), dental indicators (enamel hypoplasia), skeletal pathologies, as well as dentoalveolar pathologies (such as cavities, abscesses, alveolar resorption, ante mortem tooth loss, calculus and malpositions), joint conditions (arthropathies), and enthesopathies. The goal is to reconstruct the living conditions, health, and activities of the analyzed subjects.
The sample consists of 23 males, 4 females, 2 individuals of undetermined sex, and 7 children. Half of the subjects had an age at death between 30 and 39 years. In terms of stature, women had an average height within the typical range for the medieval population, while males were below average. Cribra cranii affected 95% of the sample, cribra orbitalia 89%, and periosteal reactions 100%. Enamel hypoplasia was found in 90% of cases. Regarding dental pathologies, 70% of individuals had cavities, 21.1% had abscesses, while 78% of alveoli showed alveolar resorption, and 45% of individuals experienced tooth loss during their lifetime. Additionally, 40% of the subjects suffered from maxillary sinusitis. The observed arthrosis was relatively mild, enthesopathies mainly affected the upper limbs, and fractures (mostly on the ribs) appeared to be related to occupational activities. Therefore, a picture of suboptimal health conditions emerges, especially during the early stages of life, consistent with an urban population experiencing a period of economic crisis and decline, enduring the effects of the so-called "urban penalty."