In our laboratory, we first perform macroscopic analyses on ancient skeletal findings in order to
determine the biological profile: sex, age-at-death, ancestry… Therefore, anthropometric
measurements are made to determine height, to define the skeletal morphology of the skull and of
the appendicular skeleton through the calculation of skeletal indices.
The main purpose of anthropological studies is to reconstruct the paleobiology of ancient
populations by trying to help archaeologists and historians during the investigation of a site.
The osteological findings studied within our department are those coming mainly from the
archaeological contexts of the province of Varese.
Centre of research in osteoarchaeology and paleopathology
