Stratigraphic Context
MNI: 43
0.0m - 8.5m Shaft Depth
Well shaft taphonomy: Commingled unarticulated bone clusters throughout silt/rubble fill. Expedient disposal lacking funerary offerings.
Bioarchaeological Diagnosis
Active Model: Bayes-MNI
Epidemic / Acute Infectious Disease Catastrophe (Plague)
Diagnostic Confidence: 94.0% • Battle Probability: 3.0%
- Perimortem weapon trauma under 3% rules out battle encounter
- Age-at-death profile mirrors living demographic pyramid rather than military age bias
- Expedient commingled well discard indicates crisis disposal during social collapse
Minimum No. Individuals (MNI)
43
Based on 43 L. Femurs
Perimortem Trauma Rate
2.3%
1 / 43 individuals (blunt impact)
Subadult Ratio (<18 yr)
34.9%
Plague cataclysm signature
Non-Specific Stress (Cribra)
41.9%
Chronic metabolic/endemic load
Demographic Mortality Curves (Observed vs Models)
Selected Bone Assemblage & Skeletal Element Inspection
Skeleton Assemblage #12 (Horizon B, Depth 4.8m)
Adult Female (25-30 yr)
Trauma: Absent
Pathology: Linear Enamel Hypoplasia
Articulated cranium and torso. No weapon lesions or cut marks. Cribra orbitalia present indicating juvenile systemic stress. Discarded directly above rubble stratum.
Osteometric Assemblage Log
| ID | Horizon | Demographic | Trauma | Context |
|---|
Differential Matrix Contrast
Plague / Epidemic Well:
Normal age pyramid, <5% trauma, hasty discard
Battlefield Trench:
Prime adult male skew, >60% sharp/lance trauma
Necropolis Attrition:
Infant/elderly U-shape, formal coffins/graves
Interactive Scenario Injection
Based on Live Science report: 43 commingled skeletons in Roman wells lack weapon trauma, confirming crisis disposal during ancient epidemics rather than armed sieges.