The servile body: funerary archaeology and social stratification in Roman Sicily. The Early Imperial necropolis at Cuticchi (Assoro, Enna)

The excavation of the Early Imperial rural settlement at Cuticchi (Assoro, Enna) in Sicily offered an exceptional opportunity to investigate residential, productive, sacred, and funerary contexts within a single site. Between the 1st and 3rd centuries AD, this community was composed largely of servants, freed individuals, and rural laborers, with social differentiation visible in both burial practices and osteological evidence. Out of 168 tombs, 127 individuals were analyzed: 41% male, 36% female, and 23% undetermined. The population displayed relatively low infant mortality and the presence of senile individuals, suggesting resilience unusual in ancient rural contexts. Nonetheless, osteological markers revealed a division between more affluent individuals, less exposed to physical strain, and the majority burdened by repetitive labor. The modest but symbolically significant grave goods – particularly those linked to women and textile production – highlight the recognition of specific roles within the servile population. Cuticchi thus provides a valuable case study of inequality and social dynamics in Roman provincial Sicily.