Bioarchaeological evidence of mycoses during the Late Antiquity–Early Middle Ages transition in Central Italy

Researchers have uncovered bioarchaeological evidence of mycoses infections in burials from the archaeological site of Selvicciola, central Italy, dating between 426 and 639 CE. This discovery suggests that socio-cultural, climatic, and geopolitical shifts during the Late Antiquity–Early Middle Ages transition, including the Longobard conquest, may have contributed to deteriorating health through agricultural intensification and reduced crop diversity. The study develops a structured differential diagnostic approach for identifying mycotic infections in paleopathology, integrating lesion morphology, internal bone response, and 3D imaging, while addressing the lack of uniform criteria in the discipline.

Buzi, C., Merola, A., Messineo, D., Ostrosky-Zeichner, L., Paine, R. R., Manzi, G., Smith, D. J., & Micarelli, I. (2026). Bioarchaeological evidence of mycoses during the Late Antiquity–Early Middle Ages transition in Central Italy. Scientific Reports, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-65544-y