Health, diet and mortuary practices in the countryside of Byzantine and Post ‐ Byzantine Boeotia: the case of Hagios Sozon in Orchomenos

AbstractThis paper explores issues of health, diet and mortuary practices in the countryside of Boeotia, Central Greece, during the Byzantine (12th century) and Post-Byzantine periods (19th century). Boeotia was one of the Byzantine Empire ’s most important economic and artistic centers with a flourishing life in the cities and the countryside alike and a varied (socially and culturally) population. The human remains unearthed in connection to the church of Hagios Sozon in Orchomenos were analysed to investigate the everyday challen ges and social makeup of the inhabitants in the countryside. The examination of palaeopathological lesions and stable isotopes (carbon, nitrogen and sulphur) in combination showed moderate living conditions, a homogenous terrestrial diet and signs of mobility, while the consumption of freshwater foo d sources was not detected, despite the vicinity to Lake Copais. Finally, social differentiation was suggested through the construction of a family burial structure and the mortuary treatment for preterms, perinates and infants.
Source: International Journal of Osteoarchaeology - Category: Science Authors: Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research