VIDEFIM

Ephemeral Lives: Childhood and Youth in Medieval Spain

The Forgotten Ones of History: Childhood and Youth Childhood and youth represent fundamental stages of life, yet they have long been overlooked in the study of past populations. Archaeology and biological anthropology have paid scant attention to these individuals, who, despite their short lives, offer valuable insight into how societies understood the body, health, and care.

The Middle Ages under the Microscope The Middle Ages provide a fascinating context for exploring these questions. Growing up was often challenging and many children did not reach adulthood. Even so, skeletal remains reveal how they lived, experienced illness, and were cared for, while historical sources complement this bioarchaeological evidence.

What do we study? Our project aims to analyse the lives, health, and development of approximately 250 children and young people from various medieval sites in Castile and al-Andalus.

How do we do it? We combine anthropological, paleopathological, paleoparasitological, and biomolecular analyses with historical and archaeological data.

METHODOLOGY

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Sex estimation

Proteomic Techniques Applied to Dental Enamel for the Study of Biological and Social Differences

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Age estimation

Standard Anthropological Methods Based on Established Scientific References

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Diet

Stable Isotopes, Dental Pathology, and Metabolic Markers

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Pathologies and Parasites

Identification of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases through Skeletal Remains, Geohelminth Eggs in Sediments, and Ancient DNA

Children’s Skeletons Offer Insight into Past Diets, Diseases, and Child Labour

Mary E. Lewis

ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONTEXTS

Tejuela cemetery

Palacios de la Sierra. Castle necropolis

San Baudelio cemetery

GROUND-BREAKING PAPERS

Introduction of sugarcane in Al-Andalus (Medieval Spain) and its impact on children’s dental health

The introduction of sugarcane in Europe by the Arabs in the 10th century AD brought about a drastic change in gastronomy and oral health. In Southern Spain (Al-Andalus), sugarcane was mainly consumed by the elite, although its consumption became relatively widespread during the Nasrid Kingdom. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of the introduction of sugar on human diet and oral health by comparing patterns of caries in deciduous teeth between nonadult skeletal samples from two Nasrid populations and a comparative set representing various Iberian populations without access to sugarcane (from Bronze to Medieval Ages). We analyzed 770 teeth from 115 non-adults divided into three groups: infants under 2 years of age, non-adults presenting only deciduous teeth, and non-adults presenting mixed deciduous and permanent dentition. The frequency of caries is high in the Nasrid individuals and very low in the comparative sample. This finding is in agreement with contemporaneous written sources on the utilization of sugarcane in the diet and as a pacifier for infants during weaning. Differences in the frequency of caries between the Nasrid samples are likely related to the socioeconomic differences between these populations.

Infant feeding practices in a Pre-Roman/Celtic Population from Verona (Italy)

We studied an osteological sample from the pre-Roman/Celtic necropolis of Seminario Vescovile of Verona (Italy), dated to the 3rd to 1st century BCE and attributed to the Cenomani Gauls population. The sample is mostly composed of well-preserved infants in their first months and years of life. In this study we combined isotopic (δ15N and δ13C) and anthropological evidence with the aim of investigating infant feeding practices in non-adult samples. 36 non-adults were selected and divided into seven age phases. The isotopic composition of their rib bone collagen was determined and related to the mean values of adults (n = 54) and animals (n = 7). δ15N values ranged between 7.1‰ and 12.9‰ (AIR), with a mean of 10.2‰ (± 1.5‰), while δ13C values ranged between − 20.2‰ and − 9.7‰ (V-PDB), with a mean of − 15.3‰ (± 2.5‰). These results indicate the initiation of transitional feeding around six months. Significantly high δ15N values in some infants up to two years old suggests prolonged breast-milk consumption. In comparison with the δ15N and δ13C data from the adult females (n = 21), considered as potential mothers, these infants clearly show the effect of breastfeeding on trophic level (δ15N enriched between 1.8 and 3.3‰).

Rigorous observation must always precede theory

Paul Broca

ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES

International congress

“ACROSS THE BORDER”: INTERACTION AND MOBILITY IN MEDIEVAL IBERIA

Theme: Interaction, connectivity and mobility

Author:
Ramón López Gijón – University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Co-Author(s):
María Gracia Roca – University of Deusto, Spain
Ana Luisa Santos – University of Coimbra, Portugal
Sylvia Jiménez Brobeil – University of Granada, Spain

Throughout the Middle Ages, the history of the Iberian Peninsula was shaped by the arrival of Arabs and the spread of Islam, as well as by the military campaigns of Christian groups advancing southwards. The resulting frontier fluctuated in both size and location, gradually moving southwards across the peninsula and creating a large transitional zone between the political spheres of Asturias-León, Portugal and Castile on one side, and Al-Andalus on the other.

While traditional studies have focused on military and repopulation strategies, archaeology has filled important gaps in our knowledge that documentary sources could not. This frontier region has a complex history of conflict, as evidenced by the construction of fortifications. Yet during periods of relative peace, it also fostered significant cultural interactions and acculturation processes, enabling the emergence of a dynamic and multifaceted society. These territories were characterised by significant social mobility, including migratory movements, repopulation efforts, trade, the exchange of knowledge, and the creation of new agricultural landscapes.

This session welcomes archaeological research of defensive structures, battles and settlements, as well as bioarchaeological studies of paleodemography, genetics, health and diet.

International Master’s Programme

NEW MASTER’S IN BIOANTHROPOLOGY AND HEALTH: DYNAMICS OF PAST POPULATIONS

Institution:
University of Coimbra, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology

Scope:
Bioanthropology, human osteology, archaeology, and the health of past populations

The University of Coimbra introduces the new Master’s in Bioanthropology and Health: Dynamics of Past Populations, an interdisciplinary programme focused on the excavation, treatment, analysis, and interpretation of human osteological remains from archaeological contexts. This training offers advanced insight into health, disease, mortality, sociocultural practices, mobility, genetic variation, and other key dimensions of past populations.

Information regarding admission for the 2026/2027 academic year is available on the official University of Coimbra website.