Conference Presentations by David Pickel
Poggio Gramignano, located in the territory of Lugnano in Teverina (TR), Umbria, is famous for it... more Poggio Gramignano, located in the territory of Lugnano in Teverina (TR), Umbria, is famous for its Augustan era villa and Late Antique (450 C.E.) infant and child cemetery. Recent fieldwork, however, has brought to light new archaeological discoveries that reveal a more ancient history, extending the evidence for occupation at Poggio Gramignano back into the Orientalizing and Archaic periods. These new discoveries include a large pit and burning deposits containing numerous impasto ceramics and other artifacts indicative of a settlement dating at least from the seventh to sixth centuries B.C.E. Also, cursory field survey conducted at and nearby Poggio Gramignano has identified additional pre-Roman materials and a possible pre-Roman necropolis. What is more, a remarkable stratigraphic relationship between Poggio Gramignano’s pre-Roman and Roman archaeological phases has been uncovered, suggesting that the builders who constructed the Augustan era villa were in fact archaeologists of sorts themselves, having been the first to discover and interact with the pre-Roman pit and burning deposits.
In this poster we first detail this new evidence, in particular the stratigraphic relationship between the pre-Roman deposits and the Augustan era villa’s sub-structure. Following, we contextualize this evidence with what is currently known about Southern Umbria’s pre-Roman archaeological landscape. To conclude, we discuss the significance of these new discoveries. Not only do they considerably expand Poggio Gramignano’s chronology and suggest that the site was an important economic center at the border between Etruscan, Faliscan, and Umbrian territories, but they also provide new insight into the practice of Roman building and builders’ encounters with archaeological deposits in antiquity, possibly adding for the Romans special new meaning to Poggio Gramignano as the site of an elite villa and later infant and child cemetery.
This poster discusses the results of the 2019 field season of the ‘Villa Romana di Poggio Gramign... more This poster discusses the results of the 2019 field season of the ‘Villa Romana di Poggio Gramignano Archaeological Project’. This project -- a partnership between the Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti, e Paesaggio dell’Umbria, the University of Arizona, and the Commune di Lugnano in Teverina -- aims to better understand the development of the Roman villa at Poggio Gramignano and its associated late Roman child cemetery, as well as their connection to malaria and the larger history of Roman central Italy.
Located near the Umbrian town of Lugnano in Teverina (TR), this Augustan period villa was originally excavated in the 1980s and early 1990s under the scientific direction of David Soren. These first excavations not only uncovered significant sections of the villa’s living quarters, but also a unique child cemetery. It is currently hypothesized that this cemetery was the result of a malaria epidemic that struck the region sometime in the middle of the 5th century CE.
Recent excavations have focused on the area of the cemetery. During the 2019 field season eight new burials of varying types were uncovered, including two inhumed infants whose bodies were weighed down with stones and concrete. These newly discovered burials, together with those recently discovered during past seasons, brings the total count of distinct individuals found deposited within the villa’s ruins to sixty. In addition, re-study of those burials previously discovered by Soren and his team has found evidence of mid-wife assisted birth. Finally, the 2019 field season saw the completion of a pre-Roman deposit of artifactual material, found to have been cut by the villa’s foundation walls in close proximity to the area of child cemetery. Although study of this material is ongoing, it likely originates from an archaic settlement formerly located on or near Poggio Gramignano.
This poster reintroduces the Roman Villa at Poggio Gramignano (VRPG) and presents a preliminary r... more This poster reintroduces the Roman Villa at Poggio Gramignano (VRPG) and presents a preliminary report of new excavations of the villa conducted between the summers of 2016 and 2017 by American and Italian archaeologists. These two seasons are the first in a multi-year research project—a partnership between the Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio dell’Umbria, the University of Arizona, and the Commune di Lugnano in Teverina. The project aims to better understand the development of the villa and further contextualize it and the late Roman (mid-fifth century C.E.) infant cemetery discovered within its storage magazines with the larger history of Roman central Italy.
Located near the Umbrian town of Lugnano in Teverina (TR), this Augustan period villa was originally excavated in the 1980s and early 1990s by Prof. David Soren. These first excavations not only uncovered significant sections of the villa’s living quarters, but also an abnormal infant cemetery. Here the remains of 47 children were discovered, ranging in age from prenatal to three years. Taking into account much material and textual evidence, Soren suggested that this cemetery was the result of an acute malaria epidemic. Subsequent analysis of the oldest individual (B36) utilizing more precise methodologies (aDNA extraction and hemozoin isolation analysis) corroborate this interpretation - B36 most likely died from an infection of Plasmodium falciparum malaria, the most malignant strain of malaria.
The 2016 and 2017 campaigns further excavated the area of the infant cemetery, specifically Rooms 11, 12 and 17. Three burials of varying types were newly discovered. In addition, a curious trace of piping was revealed within Room 16 of the upper villa area. Also, aerial photography and GPR revealed many new structures nearby.
VRPG provides a rare opportunity to not only study the deadly history of malaria, but also the history of central Italian Roman villas. This poster reintroduces the villa and presents the preliminary results of the 2016 and 2017 excavation campaigns. This poster also discusses the novel protocol developed by the project’s bioarchaeology specialist, Dr. Jamie Inwood, for identifying infections of P. falciparum within ancient human remains.
Cycladic “frying pans” remain one of the most enigmatic and exhibited artifacts of the Aegean Bro... more Cycladic “frying pans” remain one of the most enigmatic and exhibited artifacts of the Aegean Bronze Age, and while many theories have been suggested regarding their possible function(s) and the symbolism of their decorative features, little attention has been paid to their manufacture, even in the key publications of Coleman (1985) and Rambach (2000). A close analysis of their chaine operatoire and morphological characteristics (e.g., weight, measurements, syntax of decoration, and rendering of idiosyncratic motifs) can reveal aspects of manufacture and artist’s intent and may also invite reconsideration of some proposed functions.
Therefore, to gain a better understanding of the Cycladic frying pans, we have chosen to re-create one, specifically inventory number NAM 4974 (Tomb 174, Chalandriani, Syros), its with forked handle, central ship motif, and network pattern of spirals. Our final replica has taken into consideration the scholarship concerning Bronze Age ceramic technology, first-hand observations of select Cycladic frying pans at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, including inventory number NAM 4974 itself, micro-imaging, and three-dimensional laser scanning. In the course of examining multiple frying pans, precise weights, never before considered, and measurements were recorded, and careful attention was paid to their morphological and decorative characteristics, their fabric, and the white-paste filling of their impressed designs. With these observations, we were able to better inform the production of our 1:1 scale replica, which in turn has revealed new thoughts concerning the time and tool kit required by Early Bronze Age Cycladic potters. Furthermore, with our finished replica we were also able to perform complementary experimentation, putting to the test popular theories regarding Cycladic frying pan function.
This study brings new attention to one of the most iconic artifact types of the Aegean Bronze Age. Our poster provides the results of our experimental study, including not only the methodology and procedure of our reproduction but also our observations on manufacture, design, and possible function(s). Alongside the poster is our scale reproduction of inventory number NAM 4974 and the tools used in its manufacture.
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Conference Presentations by David Pickel
In this poster we first detail this new evidence, in particular the stratigraphic relationship between the pre-Roman deposits and the Augustan era villa’s sub-structure. Following, we contextualize this evidence with what is currently known about Southern Umbria’s pre-Roman archaeological landscape. To conclude, we discuss the significance of these new discoveries. Not only do they considerably expand Poggio Gramignano’s chronology and suggest that the site was an important economic center at the border between Etruscan, Faliscan, and Umbrian territories, but they also provide new insight into the practice of Roman building and builders’ encounters with archaeological deposits in antiquity, possibly adding for the Romans special new meaning to Poggio Gramignano as the site of an elite villa and later infant and child cemetery.
Located near the Umbrian town of Lugnano in Teverina (TR), this Augustan period villa was originally excavated in the 1980s and early 1990s under the scientific direction of David Soren. These first excavations not only uncovered significant sections of the villa’s living quarters, but also a unique child cemetery. It is currently hypothesized that this cemetery was the result of a malaria epidemic that struck the region sometime in the middle of the 5th century CE.
Recent excavations have focused on the area of the cemetery. During the 2019 field season eight new burials of varying types were uncovered, including two inhumed infants whose bodies were weighed down with stones and concrete. These newly discovered burials, together with those recently discovered during past seasons, brings the total count of distinct individuals found deposited within the villa’s ruins to sixty. In addition, re-study of those burials previously discovered by Soren and his team has found evidence of mid-wife assisted birth. Finally, the 2019 field season saw the completion of a pre-Roman deposit of artifactual material, found to have been cut by the villa’s foundation walls in close proximity to the area of child cemetery. Although study of this material is ongoing, it likely originates from an archaic settlement formerly located on or near Poggio Gramignano.
Located near the Umbrian town of Lugnano in Teverina (TR), this Augustan period villa was originally excavated in the 1980s and early 1990s by Prof. David Soren. These first excavations not only uncovered significant sections of the villa’s living quarters, but also an abnormal infant cemetery. Here the remains of 47 children were discovered, ranging in age from prenatal to three years. Taking into account much material and textual evidence, Soren suggested that this cemetery was the result of an acute malaria epidemic. Subsequent analysis of the oldest individual (B36) utilizing more precise methodologies (aDNA extraction and hemozoin isolation analysis) corroborate this interpretation - B36 most likely died from an infection of Plasmodium falciparum malaria, the most malignant strain of malaria.
The 2016 and 2017 campaigns further excavated the area of the infant cemetery, specifically Rooms 11, 12 and 17. Three burials of varying types were newly discovered. In addition, a curious trace of piping was revealed within Room 16 of the upper villa area. Also, aerial photography and GPR revealed many new structures nearby.
VRPG provides a rare opportunity to not only study the deadly history of malaria, but also the history of central Italian Roman villas. This poster reintroduces the villa and presents the preliminary results of the 2016 and 2017 excavation campaigns. This poster also discusses the novel protocol developed by the project’s bioarchaeology specialist, Dr. Jamie Inwood, for identifying infections of P. falciparum within ancient human remains.
Therefore, to gain a better understanding of the Cycladic frying pans, we have chosen to re-create one, specifically inventory number NAM 4974 (Tomb 174, Chalandriani, Syros), its with forked handle, central ship motif, and network pattern of spirals. Our final replica has taken into consideration the scholarship concerning Bronze Age ceramic technology, first-hand observations of select Cycladic frying pans at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, including inventory number NAM 4974 itself, micro-imaging, and three-dimensional laser scanning. In the course of examining multiple frying pans, precise weights, never before considered, and measurements were recorded, and careful attention was paid to their morphological and decorative characteristics, their fabric, and the white-paste filling of their impressed designs. With these observations, we were able to better inform the production of our 1:1 scale replica, which in turn has revealed new thoughts concerning the time and tool kit required by Early Bronze Age Cycladic potters. Furthermore, with our finished replica we were also able to perform complementary experimentation, putting to the test popular theories regarding Cycladic frying pan function.
This study brings new attention to one of the most iconic artifact types of the Aegean Bronze Age. Our poster provides the results of our experimental study, including not only the methodology and procedure of our reproduction but also our observations on manufacture, design, and possible function(s). Alongside the poster is our scale reproduction of inventory number NAM 4974 and the tools used in its manufacture.