5
It is estimated that the city had 40,000 inhabitants at its peak.[5] Human remains show mixture of different people. Facial reconstruction has been performed on several skulls for the purpose of the 2018 exhibition "Roman Limes and cities in Serbia" in the gallery of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts prepared by the archaeologist and forensic anthropologist Ilija Mikić. Remains show that the population belonged to the various types, like the Mediterranean, but also the unusual for this region like the Nordic or the Black. Some of this different faces were reconstructed.[25]
Other important findings include the skulls with the full sets of teeth or the elongated skulls. Though immediately labeled "alien" by the public, they are actually product of the special technics for the artificial cranial deformation, which would start with the tying up of children's heads. The elongation was deemed very beautiful and desirable. Mikić also stated that, based on the numerous skeletons, the average life span in Viminacium was 35 years, while the average height was 165 cm (65 in) for men and 155 cm (61 in) for women
Reconstruction of faces of some anthropological types of the citizens of ancient Viminacium, ancient Roman town in eastern Serbia:
1 – Mediterranean anthropological type, based on a skull from grave G-343, found at necropolis at Više grobalja archaeological site in Viminacium.
2 – Negroid anthropological type, based on a skull from grave G-595, found at necropolis at Više grobalja archaeological site in Viminacium.
3 – Woman of Mediterranean anthropological type, based on a skull from grave G-4661, found at necropolis at Pećine archaeological site in Viminacium
4 - Nordic anthropological type, based on a skull with artificial deformation from grave G-1318, found at necropolis at Više grobalja archaeological site in Viminacium.
Viminacium was fortified Roman city, capital of Moesia Superior province and base camp of VII Claudia Legion. It had around 30 000 inhabitants, and its population wasn’t consisted only of locals, but also from people from other parts of the Roman Empire and distant areas which were not ruled by Romans.
Archaeologists have discovered more than 14 000 graves at Viminacium, with more than 20 000 skeletal remains, and among them are identified at least 10 different anthropological types.
Based on human remains found so far, we can say that Mediterranean anthropological type the most common among the citizens of ancient Viminacium.
Interesting facts is that there have been found remains of people of Negroid anthropological type originating from distant Africa region. Also, there are remains of 31 individuals with artificially deformed and elongated skulls, who belonged to some Germanic tribe. Practice of cranial deformation originated from Central Asia and adopted by some European tribes, in order to achieve aesthetic ideals or to show a certain social status.
These reconstructed faces represent only 4 anthropological types out of 10 discovered, other will be reconstructed and displayed in the future.
Site of Viminacium covers area of 450 hectares, and so far, only 2% have been excavated. Archaeologists say that there is enough material for the next 300 years of digging and exploration.
More than 14 000 graves and tombs with more than 30 000 interesting and valuable grave goods inside them have been found at Viminacium necropolises, which makes them the largest Roman cemetery in the world.
Unfortunately, most of Viminacium’s remains were found at the foot of a massive coal-fired power station and above the coal mine deposits, and archaeological excavations are being carried out before new units of the plant and intensive coal mining devastate this ancient site
614443_original.jpg
Bookmarks