Children’s World in the Medieval Town of Cencelle (9th-16th Centuries): an Archaeological Analysis

Abstract

The long-time period along which the town of Cencelle developed and its social variety allow some interesting observations on population composition between the Early and Late Middle Ages. A town of Early Medieval foundation with continuity of life until the modern age thus becomes a privileged observatory of the relationship between burial areas and urban centres. In particular, child burials study (from phoetus to 12 years of age) has rised numerous insights into both their distribution in the urban context and the social reasons determining life and death in the city. In this case, child burials comparison found in three different town areas and in different chronological periods enriches the discussion. The mix of archaeological investigation and anthropological analysis delineated the age characteristics at death, possible family relationships and health status of the samples analysed.