Health and social status of children and female individuals in the ancient Naissus, Viminacium and Sirmium

Abstract

Naissus, Viminacium and Sirmium are the most important sites in Serbia from the Antiquity period. This presentation will discuss paleodemographic structures of the population in these three sites, their economic and social status, level of sanitary conditions, nutrition and health care, diseases which directly left traces on the osteological material, and diseases that left no visible marks on bones, and may indeed have been the direct cause of death for children and female individuals in ancient Naissus, Viminacium and Sirmium. In paleodemographic research, child mortality rate is an important element of a population’s progress. Child mortality is considered an adequate criterion for social and sanitation conditions of a community and a sensitive indicator of inadequate nutrition. In order to properly interpret data collected by anthropological analyses, it is necessary to know additional causes of child mortality, e.g., illnesses that do not leave visible marks on bones, and take into consideration the archaeological and historical background as well. We will determine the main reasons why females in all three sites lived shorter lives than males: did they have poorer diets; did they have inadequate medical care; or were there other possible factors? Based on our results, we can conclude that the quality of life in ancient Naissus, Viminacium and Sirmium relative to other sites was comparatively better.