Le sepolture infantili dell'età del Ferro in Veneto tra costanti e anomalie

The theme of infant and child burials in pre-Roman Veneto is of particular interest because of the wide variability of deposition methods; in this region infant burials are well recorded in necropolis but also in settlements and sacred areas. This paper aims to provide a preliminary overview of available data. In order to carry out this research, all the burials identifiable as childish on the basis of osteological and archaeological data have been taken into account. The selected sample consists of 283 infant burials from Padua, Este, Altino, Oderzo, Montebelluna, Oppeano, Gazzo Veronese and Mel, ranging from the 9th to the 3rd – 2nd century BC. In this sample we have highlighted different deposition modalities, taking into account burial place, type of ritual and emphasizing the specificities that become more articulated in the necropolis, especially with regard to cremations. The different situations identified in necropolises allow to underline the access of infants to funeral treatment. This aspect has an important meaning also in relation to other Italic contexts; at the same time, the variety of solutions adopted may reflect a hierarchical system that will be better understood with a systematic analysis. Another aspect of this research aims to highlight the role of status of families to which infants belong; different levels of status are reflected in the variety of solutions adopted during funeral ceremonies and related to different aspects like the construction of tombs and the composition of funeral grave goods. A particular aspect is represented by infant burials within inhabited areas, which is typical especially in later chronological phases (from 3th to 2nd century BC); these depositions are perhaps to be related with moments of crisis or transformation of structure or site. The research work, consisting in the analysis of published and unpublished data, has produced tables and graphs for collecting all necessary information; a distributive map instead displays various different behaviours of central places and minor centres regarding the treatment of infant deaths.