Human skeletal remains from different sites in the Bergamo district dating back to the Copper Age and assessment of the historical-archaeological background

Human osteological remains from Copper Age sites in the Bergamo province were examined: from caves in the municipality of Zogno (Buca del Tabàc, Grotta Pussù, Buca del Paier), Entratico (Buca del Corno) and Locatello (Grotta Corna Coegia); from shelters of Castione della Presolana (Val Merci Prat de la Furca, Orto dei Pagani). Anthropological analysis has focused on defining a picture of burial rites and physical state of individuals. Unfortunately, excavations lack accurate documentations, since they derive from uncontrolled collections dating back to 50 years ago and not stratigraphic excavations: secondary depositions have been observed in caves, incineration of human and animal remains (Buca del Corno), and primary depositions under shelter, including a typically Remedellian inhumation. Informations were obtained on age, sex, pathologies, post cranial measurements, stature and body mass estimations, entheses quantification. MNI for the secondary depositions included a high number of individuals (except for Grotta Corna Coegia), with no distinction of age or sex; for the primary depositions, there are fewer individuals, in some cases single individuals. Noteworthy is the evidence of the use of teeth as a “third limb” and the presence of a particular wear band on two upper incisors. Preliminary aDNA data did not identify selection on the basis of sex in the secondary depositions; in the primary depositions of Castione della Presolana, morphological sex was confirmed. Among animal remains species hunted and raised by man were identified. The analysis adds to the limited number of studies on the anthropology of Copper Age populations in Lombardy.