Death and burial of a set of fraternal twins from Tragurium: An osteobiographical approach

Abstract

Excavation of small portions of two cemeteries in ancient Tragurium (the Tragurium communal necropolis at the Dobric site (TCN: 1st to 6th century CE) and a probable Roman villa site at Dragulin (VR: end of 1st century BCE to 4th century CE) in modern Trogir, Croatia, were conducted as rescue excavations in 2011, 2016, and 2020. In this case study, we focus on a single burial of two individuals from the VR cemetery buried between the end of 1st and end of 2nd century CE using an osteobiographical approach. These individuals, both aged between birth and 2 months, were buried within the same grave and were likely facing each other within the grave space. They were buried in a single event, suggesting that they died at the same time, possibly as stillbirths. Genetically, they have been determined to be fraternal twins, one female and one male. Within this article, we present detailed pathological and archaeological context for these burials in addition to genetic and isotopic results that begin to paint a picture of life and death within the Early Roman Tragurium. Paleopathological and isotopic analyses provide further insights, indicating significant metabolic disease and a typical Roman diet with marine and C3 foods. The osteobiographical approach, involving the integration of archaeological, bioarchaeological, paleopathological, and chemical analyses, offers a more comprehensive understanding of life and death in Early Roman Tragurium.