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A synthetic measure of mortality using skeletal data from ancient cemeteries: The d index

Author

Listed:
  • Irene Barbiera

    (Università degli Studi di Padova (UNIPD))

  • Gianpiero Dalla Zuanna

    (Università degli Studi di Padova (UNIPD))

  • Maria Castiglioni

    (Università degli Studi di Padova (UNIPD))

Abstract

Background: Due to the scarcity of written sources in ancient historical periods, and thanks to the development of increasingly sophisticated methods of excavation, recognition, publication, and interpretation, archaeology has played an important role in the understanding of demographic mechanisms. It is in this context that the last decade has seen important developments in paleodemography, the use of skeletons to reconstruct the demographic dynamics of the past. Objective: In this study we show how skeletal data can be used to determine mortality regimes, enlarging the demographic meaning of the d index proposed by Bocquet-Appel in 2002. We apply the d index to Italian cemeteries dating from the 1st to the 15th century AD. Contribution: Our study contributes to the development of paleodemography, a particularly valuable method that uses large osteological samples to understand mortality trends in ancient historical periods. In this study we extend and develop the d index, introduced by Bocquet-Appel in 2002, and demonstrate its usefulness in a range of plausible demographic scenarios. By applying this method to the study of mortality in Italy from the 1st to the 15th centuries AD, we show its reliability in tracing mortality trends in periods of both normal mortality and mortality crisis.

Suggested Citation

  • Irene Barbiera & Gianpiero Dalla Zuanna & Maria Castiglioni, 2018. "A synthetic measure of mortality using skeletal data from ancient cemeteries: The d index," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 38(65), pages 2053-2072.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:38:y:2018:i:65
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2018.38.65
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Irene Barbiera & Gianpiero Dalla‐Zuanna, 2009. "Population Dynamics in Italy in the Middle Ages: New Insights from Archaeological Findings," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 35(2), pages 367-389, June.
    2. repec:cai:poeine:pope_206_0829 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Koepke, Nikola & Baten, Joerg, 2005. "The biological standard of living in Europe during the last two millennia," European Review of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 9(1), pages 61-95, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Irene Barbiera & Gianpiero Dalla‐Zuanna, 2024. "Demographic Systems of Medieval Italy (6th–15th century AD)," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 50(2), pages 541-570, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Italy; paleodemography; d index; mortality regimes; population;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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