The medieval burial assemblage from Koudiet er Rammadiya, Northern Tunisia. An interdisciplinary bioarchaeological investigation

Abstract The osteological analysis of human skeletal assemblages offers crucial osteobiographical insights into ancient populations, yet remains largely unexplored in past Tunisia. This paper presents the first archaeological investigation of Tunisian medieval burials, unearthed during excavations between 2016–2017 and 2021–2022. This interdisciplinary study, combining archaeology, bioarchaeology, and paleopathology, examines skeletons from Koudiet er Rammadiya, a site in the Wadi Serrat region. The main aim is to investigate the funerary practices, health, and lifestyle of individuals from medieval North-western Tunisia, shedding light on this underexplored population. The focus is on the site’s final phases of use and occupation, exploring funerary practices and rituals from the early Islamic period. The skeletal assemblage dates to two main periods: the seventh century CE and the fifteenth century CE. Osteological analysis revealed a minimum number of individuals (MNI) of 10, including three young females and two foetuses. A preliminary palaeopathological assessment identified a congenital condition in two individuals. An exploratory stable isotope analysis highlighted dietary practices focused on a predominantly terrestrial diet and a possible shared local origin for all the buried individuals.