I reperti umani neolitici di Santa Barbara-Polignano a Mare (BA)

The human skeleton remains discovered in the Santa Barbara site were submitted to cultural and anthropological analysis. This human remains came from a segment of ditch called “La Trappola” and from a necropolis in outdoor area (Meo) attributable respectively to Serra d’Alto and Diana-Bellavista facies (Late Neolithic). The strinking case consist in a burial arranged under a mound which was located in a segment of ditch after the ditch lost original function. The mound covered the skeleton of a young woman characterized by a stone lamp upturned on the pelvis. The little necropolis is composed of cist and grave burials. The most complete burial is that of an infant (individual 4); it was deposed in curled up position within a stone structure created with calcareous blocks. The analysis regarded four individuals: Individual 1: it is the most complete skeleton, is adult female (25-28 years). The muscular insertions and the robustness indices of long bones of the upper limbs indicates that it is little slender. We can deduce that she conducted intense work with arms consisting in agricultural activity of collecting or activity of stone processing; Individual 2: it is an adult male (20-25 years). Its skeleton presents combustion traces; Individual 3: it is an adult of indeterminate sex; Individual 4: it was found in area Meo, it is a male (9-12 months). The cause of death was probably an otitis degenerate in meningitis as demonstrate abnormal holes found in the proximity of the acoustic meatus. The geometry of the trasverse section of humerus and femur diaphysis, the evaluations of the bones resistance forces and the second force’s moment of cortical area allowed us to establish that they had a nutrition of good quality and scarce mobilit