"Cholera epidemics in the past: an integrated archaeological approach"
a lecture by: Antonio Fornaciari PhD. & Francesco Coschino MPhil.
Division of Paleopathology, University of Pisa
During the nineteenth century, many epidemics struck both sides of the Atlantic. In particular, between 1854 and 1855, cholera reaped hundreds of thousands of victims in the Old Continent, with 30,000 victims in Tuscany alone. This lecture will present the results of archaeological, bioarchaeological, and paleopathological investigations carried out by researchers the Division of Paleopathology of the University of Pisa in two Tuscan cholera cemeteries. The bioarchaeological study of cholera cemeteries allows to better understand not only the disease and its epidemiological effects, but also - and especially - to capture a glimpse of past societies’ skeletal growth, diet, social inequality, diseases, and life expectancy. The presentation will also highlight survey methodologies and technological and informatics innovations developed to manage and analyze archaeological and bioarchaeological data.
