IULIA: a georeferenced anthropological dataset from Ancient Latium

This dataset presents a bioarchaeological research documenting human skeletal evidence from central Latium (Italy), spanning the Roman Imperial to Late Antique periods. The dataset was designed to ensure the systematic recording, standardisation, and long-term digital preservation of information relating to funerary and biological contexts, including the presence of faunal remains, which have also been registered within the anthropological dataset. The present research originates within Spoke 8, “Sustainability and Resilience of Tangible Cultural Heritage,” of the extended partnership CHANGES (Cultural Heritage Active Innovation for Next-Gen Sustainable Society), a national initiative aimed at developing innovative and interdisciplinary approaches for the sustainable management of cultural heritage in Italy. Within this framework, the present study contributes to the broader objective of integrating advanced technologies, scientific methodologies, and participatory governance models to strengthen the knowledge, conservation, and resilience of Tangible Cultural Heritage (TCH). The anthropological dataset presented here, named "IULIA: a georeferenced anthropological dataset from Ancient Latium", integrates data from three necropolises, Lucus Feroniae, Isola Sacra, and Selvicciola, derived from archival documentation, published literature, and recent research conducted in the Laboratory of Paleoaanthropology and Bioarchaeology of the Sapienza University of Rome (PanBa Lab, Department of Environmental Biology) on skeletal collections preserved at the Museum of Anthropology “Giuseppe Sergi”. Each individual is associated with a unique alphanumeric identifier (ID_INDIVIDUAL) linking osteobiographical, palaeopathological, and biomolecular data with related graphic materials and bibliographic references. The dataset provides standardised metadata in tabular format (.xlsx), enabling integration with other bioarchaeological databases and facilitating spatial, statistical, and comparative analyses. The dataset includes georeferenced information and detailed metadata, allowing users to cross-reference biological and cultural variables. Together, they represent a comprehensive digital resource for exploring mobility, health, and lifeways in ancient Latium. Designed as dynamic and reusable tools, this dataset will be periodically updated as new analyses and research outcomes become available, thereby supporting transparency, data preservation, and future interdisciplinary work in bioarchaeology.