Gendered division of labor in a Celtic community? A comparison of sex differences in entheseal changes and long bone shape and robusticity in the pre‐Roman population of Verona (Italy, third–first century BC )

A higher incidence of entheseal changes (EC) in male skeletons suggests sex-specific activities, likely related to farming, among the Cenomani Gauls of Verona during the third–first century BC. Unlike females, males exhibited more pronounced ECs on upper and lower limb attachment sites, indicating distinct biomechanical stress patterns. The study, which analyzed 56 adult individuals (22 females, 34 males), found no significant differences in long bone shape or robusticity between sexes. These findings highlight the relevance of nonbiomechanical factors—such as developmental, hormonal, and genetic influences—in shaping skeletal morphology. The research employed generalized linear models and Mann-Whitney tests to compare EC patterns and bone measurements, offering new insights into gendered labor divisions in Celtic communities.

Laffranchi, Z., Charisi, D., Jiménez‐Brobeil, S. A., & Milella, M. (2020). Gendered division of labor in a Celtic community? A comparison of sex differences in entheseal changes and long bone shape and robusticity in thepre‐Romanpopulation of Verona (Italy, third–first centuryBC). American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 173(3), 568–588. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.24111