title: The privileged burial of the Pava Pieve (Siena, 8th Century AD).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The 6(th) archaeological excavation campaign performed at the 'Pieve di Pava' (San Giovanni d'Asso, Siena, Italy) unearthed a privileged stone burial of a single individual (US 2378), covered by a monolithic slab and placed in front of an altar. The skeletal remains of a young male (18-20 years old), not in anatomical connection, were found at the bottom floor of a tomb (160 cm long, 40 cm large and over 70 cm deep).
  
  
  METHODS
  A multidisciplinary study has been carried out concerning that privileged bone burial. The study combines paleopathology studies, stable isotope palaeodietary reconstruction, radiocarbon dating and archaeological analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (14)  C dating of the skeleton revealed a date between 650 and 688 AD. Stable isotope analysis (δ(18) O, δ(13) C, δ(15) N) attested that he was probably a member of the local population, whose diet was rather rich in animal proteins. The paleopathological study diagnosed a case of acromesomelic dysplasia, a congenital anomaly with disproportion of the limbs. Archaeological evidence regarding the circular delimitation of the bones suggested that the skeleton was a secondary deposition, transported to the church in a sack.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We argue that the relic was used for the re-consecration of the church, following the restoration work in the 8(th) century. We conclude that the skeleton belonged to an eminent personage (e.g., either the member of a local elite family or a saint).
authors.affiliation: Center for Isotope Research on Cultural and Environmental Heritage (CIRCE), Second University of Naples Department of Environmental Science, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mongelli
authors.forename: Angelica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vitiello
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Campana
authors.forename: Carmina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sirignano
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rubino
authors.forename: Gino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fornaciari
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lubritto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001106:Archaeology; D002048:Burial / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods*; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D010103:Oxygen Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D010164:Paleopathology / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods*; D055110:Radiometric Dating; D012863:Skeleton; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes; D010103:Oxygen Isotopes