Biological histories of an elite: Skeletons from the Royal Chapel of Lugo Cathedral (NW Spain)
Metadatos
Mostrar el registro completo del ítemEditorial
John Wiley & Sons
Materia
Apatite Cathedral documents Clergyman Collagen DISH
Fecha
2021-06-03Referencia bibliográfica
López-Costas, O., Müldner, G., & Lidén, K. (2021). Biological histories of an elite: Skeletons from the Royal Chapel of Lugo Cathedral (NW Spain). International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, 1– 16. [https://doi.org/10.1002/oa.3011]
Patrocinador
Direccion Xeral de Patrimonio Historico de Galicia; Xunta de Galicia European Commission ED431B 2018/20 ED 431D2017/08 ED481D 2017/014; Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion and Beca Leonardo a Investigadores y Creadores Culturales 2020 de la Fundacion BBVA PID2019-111683RJ-I00Resumen
This study aims to reconstruct the biological histories of the people buried at the
Royal Chapel of Lugo Cathedral, an important religious center of NW Spain, by using
anthropological, geochemical, and historical perspectives. We conducted a macroscopic
and radiographic study on 955 skeletal elements, a multi-isotope (δ13Ccol,
δ15N, δ34Scol, δ13Cap, δ18Oap) analysis of human (n = 12) and animal (n = 4) samples,
and the study of 1407 documents from the cathedral archives. There was a minimum
of 15 individuals, including six subadults (<7 years), seven mature males, and one
possible female. Several traumatic healed injuries, a pelvis osteochondroma, and a
case of DISH have been detected. Males were enriched in 15N (up to 15.7‰, Δhumananimal
avg = 5.1‰) suggesting consumption of animal protein including freshwater
fish. Cathedral documents reflect fora payments in the form of rye, eggs, poultry,
sheep, pigs, and eels as well as the hiring of two physicians. All individuals, except
one, lived between the 14th and the early 15th centuries and show characteristics of
high standard of living. Males were likely members of the cathedral—chaplains,
administrators, sacristans, but not bishops—or noblemen relatives of the former
according to preserved documents. Isotopic and paleopathological study suggest that
they had an active and traveling life and at least one of them had connections with
Central Spain. Children were local and possibly connected to the nobility. Lugo
Cathedral is a prime example about the possibilities of transdisciplinary research in
the identification of lifestyle in past populations.