ANALISI DEI MARCATORI SCHELETRICI DI STRESS OCCUPAZIONALE (MOS) IN UNA POPOLAZIONE ETRUSCA DELLA PIANURA PADANA: SPINA, VI-III sec. a.C.

The reconstruction of ancient peoples’ life style cannot be completed without the analysis of their skeletal remains. In fact, the human skeleton functions as an exceptional bio-archaeological archive and it can react to external and internal stimuli and keep track of them. In particular, work and physical activity-related mechanical stress can impose skeletal modifications, which are defined Markers of Occupational Stress (MOS).There are several MOS: enthesial changes, osteoarthritis, metric changes and a series of other skeletal modifications (supernumerary articular facets, stress fractures etc.). The present work consists in the anthropological, paleopathological and of all types of MOS analysis of a sample of 171 individuals buried in the relevant Etruscan necropolis of Spina (Ferrara, 6th-3rd BC). The aim of this study is to reconstruct the health and pathology conditions and – most of all – the mechanical stress level regarding the prevalent activities of the population living in Spina during the Iron Age. Enthesial changes have been analysed according to Mariotti et al. (2004, 2007); osteoarthritis has been analysed according to the method proposed by Zampetti (2010), extended also to the analysis of the spine. Metric modifications have been analysed collecting a set of linear and angular anthropometric measures and computing a set of indices containing information about the mechanical load applied to the bone. Collected data have been merged in order to analyse the reciprocal relationship between the respective markers and to determine the level and pattern of mechanical stress for each individual. The aim was to identify the prevailing movements related to specific activities. Results have been statistically evaluated also for the whole sample, in order to highlight patterns and differences in the mechanical load related to social status and gender .The study has shown clear-cut differences between genders regarding MOS and their skeletal distribution patterns. In particular, males used to lead an extremely active life style and had different kinds of jobs, showing evident functional stress in both the upper and lower limb, in particular at the shoulder, elbow, knee and hip level. In women, a low level of mechanical stress in the lower limb and high in the upper limb has been observed, with a different pattern for the right and left limb. Left arm force component was directed backward and downward. Conversely, the right arm showed a typical fine motor task pattern. Therefore, we suggest that there was a gender-based work division, with men involved in diverse activities, characterised by high mobility and women mainly involved in domestic and sedentary activities. In particular, their upper limbs mechanical stress pattern suggests that they could be waivers and thread makers.