| Abstract | Svrha je istraživanja bioarheološkom analizom zuba i kostiju čeljusti pronađenim u dvije grobnice zapadnog (grob 3 i grob 4) i jedne istočnog nukleusa (grob 1) nekropole Kopila kod Blata na otoku Korčuli u Hrvatskoj odrediti biološke karakteristike preminulih stanovnika naselja, a time dobiti cjelovitiju sliku o demografskoj strukturi i socio-ekonomskom standardu populacije Ilira u mlađem željeznom dobu. Grobnice su višestruko korištene tijekom više stoljeća i skeletni su ostaci fragmentirani i vrlo loše očuvani. Istraživanje je obuhvatilo determinaciju prisutnih koštanih i zubnih ostataka, određivanje minimalnog broja jedinki,
određivanje spola, dobi i populacijske specifičnosti te određivanje kompletnog zubnog statusa. U zubnom statusu promatrane su vrijednosti karijesnih promjena, promjena zubnog trošenja, periodontalna oboljenja i hipoplastične promjene cakline. Napravljena su odontometrijska mjerenja i zabilježene su nemetrijske varijable po ASUDAS-u i hereditarne osobine. U biokemijskoj analizi napravljena su mjerenja stabilnih izotopa ugljika 13C, dušika 15N i stroncija 86/87Sr te radiokarbonsko datiranje ugljikom 14C. Druga faza istraživanja obuhvatila je usporedbu s modernom populacijom današnjih stanovnika mjesta Blato. Grobnice su
radiokarbonski datirane u razdoblje 400 - 40 g. pr. Kr., a služile su uglavnom za obiteljske ukope nekoliko desetaka članova. Nalazi zubnog statusa pokazuju zdravu populaciju s učestalosti karijesa od 5,85%, te zubnog trošenja od 86,85%. Naslage zubnog kamenca i hipoplastične promjene nisu uočene, osim kod 3 jedinke u grobu 3. Periodontalne promjene izražene su u blagom obliku s naglašenim dehiscencijama kod muškaraca (>30 god.), prosječno 10,95 mm. Rezultati analize stabilnih izotopa ugljika (δ13C= -19,5‰, ±0,1‰) i dušika (δ N‰= 8,6‰, ±0,1‰), C/N=3,4 pokazuju prehranu temeljenu na C3 biljkama i mesu domaćih životinja. Rezultati ne potvrđuju korištenje morskih resursa u prehrani. Vrijednosti stroncija 86/87Sr u zubnoj caklini su 0,708400-0,708433, a u kostima 0,708149-0,708471 (±1σ 0,000016- 000034), što pokojnike smješta u lokalno, autohtono okruženje. Analiza nemetrijskih varijabli pokazuje morfološke atipičnosti broja gornjih pretkutnjaka, novo obilježje bukalnog usjeka na donjim premolarima, kao i pripadnost euroazijskoj populacijskoj skupini. Moderna populacija u usporedbi s arheološkom pokazuje veće zube, više patoloških promjena karijesa i parodontoloških oboljenja, manje abrazivnih promjena kao i izražene ortodontske nepravilnosti kompresije zuba. |
| Abstract (english) | Objective: the purpose of this paper is to determine the biological characteristics of the deceased inhabitants of the settlement through the bioarchaeological analysis of the skeletal remains of teeth and jaw bones found in 3 tombs of the western and eastern nucleus of the Kopila Necropolis near Blato on the island of Korčula, Croatia, and thereby obtain a more complete picture of the demographic structure and socioeconomic standard of the Illyrian population in the Late Iron Age. The research hypothesis is that the Illyrians were engaged in agriculture, cattle breeding, and fishing, ate healthy food and were indigenous inhabitants of the island of Korčula. The second hypothesis is that modern inhabitants of the island show more changes that are pathological in the teeth.
Materials and methods: in the organization of the Vela Luka Cultural Center, the Department of Archaeology of the University of Zadar, the Museum of Ancient Glass, and the Municipality of Blato, the Kopila Necropolis has been archaeologically investigated since 2012. So far, two nuclei have been discovered, the western one with a dozen tombs of monumental construction, and the eastern one, discovered in 2019, which is still in the research phase. Human osteological material was collected during archaeological excavations in 2015 and 2019 and is temporarily stored at the Department of Dental Anthropology of the School of Dental Medicine of the University of Zagreb. The construction of the tombs is a drystone wall, and the deceased were buried in stone cases and covered with gravel. Tombs were reused over the centuries, so the remains are fragmented and very poorly preserved. Tombs No. 3 and 4 of the western nucleus (nucleus 1) and tomb No. 1 of the eastern nucleus (nucleus 2) were investigated. In Tomb No. 3, there were 79 teeth found without jaw fragments. In Tomb No. 4, there were 287 teeth, 19 maxilla fragments, and 20 mandible fragments. In tomb No. 1, there were 113 permanent teeth of adults, 188 permanent teeth of children at different stages of development, and 179 primary teeth. Only adult permanent teeth were analyzed. The research included an inventory of present bone and dental remains, a determination of the minimum number of individuals, a determination of sex, age, and population specificity, and a
determination of complete dental status. In the dental status, the values of carious changes, changes in tooth wear, periodontal diseases and enamel hypoplasia were observed. Odontometric measurements were made, and non-metric variables according to ASUDAS and hereditary traits were recorded. In the biochemical analysis, measurements of stable isotopes of carbon 13C, nitrogen 15N, and strontium 86/87Sr were made, as well as radiocarbonmeasurements with carbon 14C. The second phase of the research includes a comparison with the modern population of today's inhabitants of Blato. The subjects filled out a questionnaire about diet and hygiene, they were clinically examined, and had impressions taken in alginate, from which plaster models were made.
Results: The tombs are radiocarbon dated to 400 - 40 BC and were mainly used for family burials of several members. In tomb No. 3, there were 7 men aged 16 to 55. In tomb No. 4, there were 15 men, 9 women and 8 whose gender could not be determined, aged 12 to 55. In tomb No. 1/N2 there were a minimum of 8 young adults and a minimum of 24 children aged 1 to 10. Dental status findings show a healthy population, with a caries incidence of 5.85%, and dental wear of 86.85%. Changes in dental wear are equally represented on all teeth, regardless of gender, and indicative of a diet of hard abrasive food, with probably present inorganic particles due to the preparation of food over an open fire and coarse grinding of cereals. Dental calculus deposits and hypoplasia were not observed, except in three individuals in the tomb No. 3. Periodontal changes are present in a mild form, with pronounced dehiscence in men (>30 years), an average of 10.95 mm. The results of the analysis of stable carbon isotopes (δ13C= -19.5‰, ±0.1‰) and nitrogen (δ 15N‰= 8.6‰, ±0.1‰), C/N=3.4, show a diet based on C3 plants and meat of domestic animals. The results do not confirm the use of marine resources in nutrition. The values of strontium 86/87Sr in tooth enamel are 0.708400- 0.708433 and in bones 0.708149-0.708471 (±1σ 0.000016-000034), which places the deceased in a local, indigenous environment. The non-metric variables analysis shows the morphological atypicality of the root numbers of the maxillary first premolars, and a new feature of the buccal notch on the mandibular premolars, as well as belonging to the Eurasian population. The modern population compared to the archaeological shows larger teeth, more pathological changes in caries and periodontal diseases, less abrasive changes, and pronounced orthodontic irregularities of tooth compression.
Conclusion: The research hypotheses have been confirmed, only the use of marine resources in nutrition has not been proven. |
