The human skeletal sample from Fewet

The field seasons 2004-2006 at the necropolis of Fewet provided 33 human skeletons in various state of preservation. A comprehensive description of the human skeletal sample is reported here, with the aim to provide anthropological data related to the emergence of the Garamantian society in the Fezzan. Overall, the study includes: a tentative paleodemographic profile of Fewet population; the analysis of metric and morphological features of cranial, dental, and postcranial remains; the scoring of skeletal/dental pathologies and aspecific markers of stress. The picture of a rather poor community emerges, characterized by harsh life conditions (heavy daily work load, malnutrition, poor health status), high infant mortality, and low life expectancy among the adults. The analysis of cranial morphology at Fewet, compared to other skeletal samples from neighbouring areas, suggests biological continuity between populations living in the Fezzan from the Late Pastoral to Roman times, together with the evidence of gene flow with other (tentatively sub-Saharan) populations. Dental dimensions are consistent with this conclusion. The stature documented among adults is remarkably low. Postcranial measurements suggest a moderate division of labour between the sexes, with the females mostly devoted to activities involving the use of the upper limbs (mostly manual activities), while males used intensively the lower limbs (for walking over long distances).