title: Possible human sacrifice at the origins of Rome: novel skeletal evidences.
abstract: Recent archaeological excavations at the Carcer/Tullianum, in the Roman Forum, allowed the unexpected recovery of human burials associated with the very early foundations of the monument, at the beginning of the iron age. The study of these burials resulted in interesting paleopathological discoveries, concerning the skeleton of a strongly-built male, radiocarbon-dated between 830 and 780 BC. The telltale posture of the skeleton and the presence of a massive perimortal blunt force trauma of the skull shed light on the mode and circumstances of the death of this subject, and are suggestive of ritual sacrifice. The archaeological, mythological and historical backgrounds, combined with the paleopathological evidence, help us to get a glimpse of life and death at the origins of Rome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Pathology, Univeristy "La Sapienza" Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ottini
authors.forename: Luciana Rita
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Angeletti
authors.forename: Walter Benedetto
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Pantano
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Falchetti
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minozzi
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fortini
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Catalano
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mariani-Costantini
mesh_terms: D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000473:pathology*; D049690:History, Ancient; D006708:Homicide / Q000266:history*; D010164:Paleopathology / Q000266:history*; D012067:Religion / Q000266:history*; D012384:Rome