The privileged burial of the Pava Pieve (Siena, 8th Century AD)

RATIONALE: The 6th 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 papeopatology studies, stable isotopo palaeodietary reconstruction, radiocarbondating, and archaeological analysis. RESULTS: C dating of the skeleton revealed a date between 650 and 688 AD. Stable isotope analysis (d18O, d13C, d15N) 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 8th century. We conclude that the skeleton belonged to an eminent personage (e.g., either the member of a local elite family or a saint).