Lucie Biehler-Gomez

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• PhD
• Assistant Professor at University of Milan

This research tested the applicability, intra‐ and inter‐observer reliability, and accuracy of nine macroscopic methods for estimating age‐at‐death from skeletal elements. The sample included 400 individuals from the contemporary CAL Milano Cemetery Skeletal Collection, equally divided by sex assigned at birth and with age‐at‐death ranging from 20...

This research investigates sex roles and labor in ancient Etruscan society, comparing and contrasting the bioarchaeological profile of human remains of five females and two males from the sacred area of the ‘monumental complex’ (Civita, Tarquinia). Despite the small sample size, analyses of entheseal changes, spinal and appendicular osteoarthrosis,...

To examine differences in lifestyle between urban and rural settings during the Imperial period in Italy, a comparative study was undertaken between the rural necropolis of Contrada Nevola (1st-3rd century CE) in Corinaldo (Ancona) and the urban necropolis of Università Cattolica in Milan (1st-5th century CE). Anthropo-logical and radiographic inve...

Biological sex estimation in forensic anthropology is a crucial topic, and the patella has shown promise in this regard due to its sexual dimorphism. This study uses 12 machine learning models for sex estimation based on three patellar measurements (maximum height, breadth, and thickness). Data was collected from 180 skeletons of a contemporary Ita...

This study challenges historical paradigms using a large-scale integrated bioarchaeological approach, focusing on the female experience over the last 2,000 years in Milan, Italy. Specifically, 492 skeletons from the osteological collection of Milan were used to elucidate female survivorship and mortality by integrating bioarchaeological and paleopa...

Etruria contained one of the great early urban civilisations in the Italian peninsula during the first millennium BC, much studied from a cultural, humanities-based, perspective, but relatively little with scientific data, and rarely in combination. We have addressed the unusual location of twenty inhumations found in the sacred heart of the Etrusc...

Carlo Gandini (1705-1788) is known for the introduction of typical traditional Chinese Medicine practices into Italian medicine, and in particular, that of pulsology. Yet, his activity led him to perform other interesting experimentations, among which, human head distillation. Distillation from human heads was performed since the 17 th century and...

A folder titled "Rovatti" was found among the documentation of the private collection of Enrico Rosmini in Milan. This folder contained correspondence related to the Pio Istituto dei Rachitici in Milan, a school dedicated to the care of children with skeletal deformities. These documents provide insight into the care of the patients of the Institut...

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide today, but are not just a modern phenomenon. To explore the deep roots of CVDs in human history, this book, for the first time, brings together bioarchaeological evidence from different periods, as old as 5000 BC, and geographic locations from Alaska to Northern Africa. Experts...

In this paper, we present the results of toxicological analyses of preserved brain tissue and bone samples from the remains of the seventeenth century patients of the Ospedale Maggiore, the main hospital in Milan and one of the most innovative hospitals in Europe from the Renaissance period. Beneath it, the crypt functioned as the burial place for...

Stature is a biological trait directly determined by the interaction of genetic and environmental components. As such, it is often evaluated as an indicator for the reconstruction of skeletal biological profiles, past health, and social dynamics of human populations. Based on the analysis of 549 skeletons from the CAL (Collezione Antropologica LABA...

Simple Summary Although violence is generally understood in its direct form (as physical violence), this is not its only manifestation. Indirect or structural violence results from unequal access to resources and leads to poor quality of health, which may be visible on skeletal remains through various markers. In this paper, three of these markers...

In forensic pathology, deaths due to mechanical injuries (blunt, sharp, and gunshot) require an autopsy in order to determine the cause and manner of death through a detailed examination of viscera, soft tissues, and the skeletal system. Sometimes, such as in cases of severe putrefaction, only the skeleton is observable. In such cases, the absence...

The paper presents the skeletal remains of an adult male of 30-40 years with bone lesions and deformity on the left hip, recovered during the archaeological excavation below the former Basilica of San Dionigi, dated to Late Antiquity (3rd - 5th century AD) Milan. Biological profile and paleopathological analysis were performed following standard re...

Objective Despite the existing literature, the use of surgery to treat medical diseases in Ancient Egypt remains controversial. Regarding amputations, such procedures were performed in Egypt for therapeutic reasons, although they were never described in medical papyri. Here we present the radiographic study of a possible lower limb amputation found...

A recurring observation in the literature is that females tend to be less represented than males in osteological collections. How can we explain such observations? Do female skeletons preserve less well than their male counterparts? In this study, 200 skeletons from the Collezione Antropologica LABANOF (CAL), equally divided between sexes, were sel...

Fracture dating is an issue at the forefront of forensic sciences. While dating fracture is crucial to understanding and verifying the chronology of events in cases of abuse and violent death, its application is the subject of considerable discussion in the scientific community, filled with limitations and difficulties. Current methods for fracture...

The Ospedale Maggiore, known as Ca’ Granda , was founded in 1456 by will of Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan, and was considered for almost five centuries a model for Milanese, Italian and even European healthcare. Attracting patients from all over Europe, the Ca’ Granda distinguished itself for the introduction of new treatments and innovative heal...

Simple Summary Forensic anthropologists analyze human remains to assist in the identification of the deceased, predominantly by assessing age-at-death, sex, stature, ancestry and any unique identifying features. Whilst methods have been established to create this biological profile of the skeleton, these may be influenced by a number of factors. Th...

Femicide constitutes a leading cause of premature deaths for women, yet it has been the subject of limited research until recently. Enhanced data collection and analysis on killings of women and girls are necessary to understand and address this unrelenting phenomenon. This study examines all cases of female homicide encountered at the Institute of...

The lingula is a small bony projection emerging from the medial ridge of the mandibular foramen, subjected to morphological variations. To date, scientific literature has described four different shapes (truncated, triangular, nodular and assimilated) and the relative distributions in different human populations. However, no data are available on E...

The very reasonable suggestion, that diarthrodial joint and juxta‐discal (vertebral centra‐marginal) bony overgrowths (referred to as osteophytes) have different etiologies, has eluded previous confirmation. The prevailing perspective is that diarthrodial osteophytes represent the product of compressive forces and that those on the margins of verte...

The study of plant residues extracted from dental calculus is a potent tool for reconstructing the past. In this study, three archaeological sites of the city of Milano (Italy) from two time periods (Roman and Modern Ages) were considered. An anthropological study (biological profile and pathologies) was performed for the 150 skeletons of the study...

Syphilis was a widespread infectious disease in the 17th century Italy, commonly treated with mercury‐based ointments and fumigations. Few reports exist on the analysis of abnormally high mercury levels in bone as a result of exposure to mercury‐containing anti‐syphilitic medicine. In this research, two crania recovered among the 2.9 million commin...

Background Biological findings in archaeological and paleontological contexts are not limited to bones. In particular, biological concretions can present valuable information regarding the health of the organisms under examination. However, these structures are often difficult to recognize and identify. Chemical analyses (e.g., Raman spectroscopy)...

The estimation of the post-traumatic survival time (PTST) in case of bone injuries remains a tricky issue in the forensic field, especially when dealing with dry bones. Newer high-resolution imaging, and in particular microcomputed tomography (micro-CT), has the potential to significantly improve our abilities to interpret antemortem and perimortem...

In decomposed or skeletonized bodies, conventional matrices used in forensic toxicology may no longer be available for analysis. The aim of this paper was to test the survival and detection of toxicological substances in dry bone samples with over 23 years of post-mortem interval. In this perspective, bone samples from the cranium, ribs, and verteb...

Objective This study presents evidence of a probable case of holoprosencephaly with cyclopia, which has been rarely reported in the paleopathological literature. Materials The skeletal remains of a male fetus between 36 and 40 gestational weeks from the Collezione Antropologica LABANOF (CAL) Milano Cemetery Skeletal Collection were studied. Metho...

In forensic anthropology, many small biological non-osseous materials may be found associated to skeletonized remains and can provide crucial information to the biological profile. Indeed, their careful recovery and correct identification can add information related to age-at-death, sex, ancestry, health, diet, migration and habits, and may be used...

The skeletal remains of the alleged Italian Saint Nazarius (1st or 3rd century AD) were examined by a team of anthropologists of the University of Milan upon request from ecclesiastical authorities who sought scientific verification of their authenticity and to add tangible information on the life of the saint. Anthropological analyses were perform...

Accurate sex estimation of skeletal remains is of critical importance in medico-legal investigations. Despite a significant number of metric sex estimation techniques being developed over recent years, minimal research has been conducted on the suitability of the scapulae. The aim of this study was therefore to establish population-specific discrim...

Microcephaly and encephalocele are congenital conditions that are rarely observed in perinatal skeletal remains. This case report investigates the craniofacial features of an individual of 38 gestational weeks from the Collezione Antropologica LABANOF (CAL) skeletal collection for which the death certificate indicates microcephaly and encephalocele...

In this chapter, the effects of taphonomic alterations on bone disease are explored. The interpretation of bone disease is dependent upon the conservation of the skeletal remains under examination. Thus, taphonomic factors play a major role in the detection and diagnosis of disease on dry bone. Not only can postmortem changes impact the potential o...

Today, cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Its interest is not limited to clinical purposes but extends to the dead, for the reconstruction of the history of medicine and forensic anthropology practice, in particular through the construction of a biological profile, and in archaeological and paleopathological analyses. In this ch...

The dry bone diagnosis of arthropathies results difficult due in particular to their overlapping and varied manifestations, the common absence of crucial parts of the skeletons and the impossibility to apply clinical tests. In this chapter, we present the bone manifestations of osteoarthritis, erosive osteoarthritis, septic arthritis, rheumatoid ar...

Most infectious conditions primarily involve soft tissues during life, which is why they are rarely found on skeletons. However, when they do, bone manifestations may be divided into two types: nonspecific and specific signs of infection. In this chapter, nonspecific signs of infection as well as bacterial (including tuberculosis, the treponematose...

Bone is an active tissue; it protects our organs, stores minerals, permits movement, and provides support for the body. Bones are constantly remodeling throughout life in a highly regulated process, adapting to the needs of the body. This metabolic equilibrium is referred to as bone homeostasis. However, loss of balance causes disease. In this chap...

Forensic toxicological analyses are not limited to cadavers, and matrices such as bone, hair, and nails can allow for the detection of drugs and heavy metals. The application of this discipline to forensic anthropology cases can add substantial information on the drug history and health of deceased individuals—as drugs are closely related to diseas...

Bone pathology is one of the pillars of bioarcheological investigations and yet seems to be much less considered in forensic anthropology. This chapter aims to discuss this shortcoming by demonstrating the potential of bone pathology in the forensic practice (in particular for the biological profile and personal identification). To uphold forensic...

Personal identification is an essential medico-legal process. Osteology and bone pathology can provide general and specific information on the skeleton of the deceased useful for implementing the biological profile and for personal identification. Morphological traits, including anatomical, pathological, and therapeutic features, are considered sec...

Metabolic diseases refer to disorders that disrupt normal metabolism of the organism. Metabolic disorders constitute indicators of stress as skeletal and dental changes correspond to an adaptative response to stressors during growth. In this chapter, we will focus in particular on nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalance, and markers of metabol...

Bones are not the only material that may be found among skeletonized remains. In fact, many soft tissue diseases may manifest through biological concretions or calcifications. Without proper training on their recognition, these markers of disease may be missed during recovery and analysis. In this chapter, the most commonly found calcified residues...

There are several metric and morphological methods available for sex estimation of skeletal remains, but their reliability and applicability depend on the sexual dimorphism of the remains as well as on the availability of preserved bones. Some studies showed that age-related changes on bones can cause misclassification of sex. The purpose of this s...

In the forensic anthropology practice, bone diseases are rarely considered for personal identification. In this paper, we present a forensic skeletonized case with tuberculous bone lesions, for which bone pathology may provide an indicator for positive personal identification. Antemortem hospital records were available. Postmortem CT scans of the p...

Many studies in the literature have highlighted the utility of virtual 3D databanks as a substitute for real skeletal collections and the important application of radiological records in personal identification. However, none have investigated the accuracy of virtual material compared to skeletal remains in nonmetric variant analysis using 3D model...

The aim of this paper is to examine the accuracy of pathological description on human bones. Ten participants (five forensic pathologists and five anthropologists) were asked to describe 30 bone lesions through observation of the real specimens and photographic images, including character of the lesion, the aspect of the margins and the presence of...

Thallium intoxications are a rare occurrence in forensic sciences. This paper reports a case of chronic thallium poisoning in a couple hospitalized in Milan, Italy, in which toxicological analyses were performed by the Institute of Legal Medicine of Milan on the request of the Judicial Authority. Preliminary analyses confirmed the presence of thall...

The diagnosis of bone lesions is a fundamental part of the study of skeletal remains, both in the archeological and forensic context. On the one side, the literature proved the relevance of radiography for the detection of bone lesions; on the other side, the careful macroscopic observation of the morphology of bone lesions is often underestimated....

Diabetes mellitus is a condition with severe and life-threatening complications and epidemic proportions worldwide. The study of diabetes on bones can provide crucial information to the forensic practice, the archeological field and medical research. In this paper, the authors report and discuss the lesions observed on the skeletons of 38 individua...

Atherosclerotic calcifications, as calcified atheromatous elements, are markers of cardiovascular disease. However, the literature gives little information regarding their morphological aspect, making their identification very rare in skeletonized cases. In this paper, we document the morphological, histological, and SEM aspects of atherosclerotic...

Objective: The aim of this article is to provide additional documentation of bone metastases to help anthropologists recognize the condition and potentially suggest the diagnosis of bladder carcinoma in differential diagnosis. Materials and methods: Thirteen individuals clinically diagnosed with bladder carcinoma from the 20th century Milano Cem...

Objective: The aim of this paper is to provide information on the morphology and composition of gallstones based on clinical samples in order to assist paleopathologists and bioarchaeologists in recognizing their presence in archaeological contexts. Materials and methods: 270 gallstones were extracted and macerated from autopsies conducted at th...

Multiple Myeloma (MM) is of special interest in anthropology, in particular in the differential diagnosis with metastatic carcinoma. In this paper, we present two cases of known MM and discuss the criteria for diagnosis in comparison with the literature. Two skeletons from the identified CAL Milano Cemetery Skeletal Collection were selected for the...

Breast carcinoma is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in women. The study of bone pathologies presents considerable potential in anthropology, paleopathology, forensic science and medicine. In this paper, we present and discuss metastatic lesions found in the skeletons of known individuals from the CAL Milano Cemetery Skeletal Collection, cl...

Markers of disease on skeletal remains are valuable tools in both forensic sciences and archeology. However, not all pathologies leave direct signs on bones that can be interpreted. Some are responsible for the formation of calcified material that have the potential to survive the decomposition processes. These products of disease are difficult to...

According to Italian law, unclaimed skeletal remains can be granted by cemeteries to universities for education and research purposes. An agreement was concluded between the Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense (LABANOF), the city of Milan and three cemeteries of Milan and resulted in the acquisition and assemblage of a contemporary sk...

The value of bone pathologies in the forensic anthropological practice The study of bone pathologies on dry bone is primarily used in archaeology but also presents potential for forensic anthropology.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common erosive arthropathy and is of particular interest to forensic sciences. However, its diagnosis on bones remains challenging. We examined two skeletons from the CAL Milano Cemetery Skeletal Collection diagnosed with the pathology during life, to test the validity of the diagnostic criteria on bones. The f...

With the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) pandemic, the study of HIV/AIDS on bones has become of pivotal interest for research in bone pathologies, forensic applications (especially in the matter of identification when confronted to antemortem data) and medical purposes. In this paper, we d...

The CAL Milano Cemetery Skeletal Collection is a modern and continuously growing identified osteological collection of 2127 skeletons under study in the Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense (LABANOF) in the Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health of the University of Milan (Italy), and part of the Collezione Antropologica LABANOF...

The CAL Milano Cemetery Skeletal Collection is a modern and continuously growing identified osteological collection of 2127 skeletons under study in the Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense (LABANOF) in the Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health of the University of Milan (Italy), and part of the Collezione Antropologica LABANOF...

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease creating calcifying plaques in the arterial walls. Because its paleopathological diagnosis remains little studied on skeletal remains, its impact on forensic and archeological data is completely underestimated. Here, 24 skeletal remains from the Milano Cemetery Skeletal Collection have been studied...