Osteological Collections
Tomar
Tomar is located in central Portugal, near Nabão River. Despite being a Templar town, Tomar’s necropolis represents the general population and not, or at least not only knights. This collection was excavated from an area of approximately 6,500m2, recovering 6,792 individuals (4,991 adults; 1,801 non-adults). Tomar’s cemetery was used from the 11th to the 17th centuries but only skeletons from areas that represent a smaller chronological interval (14th to 16th centuries) will be selected.
Estremoz
Estremoz is an inland city in Alentejo region, near the frontier with Spain. This graveyard, used between the 13th and the 15th centuries, was not completely excavated, 142 skeletons (77 adults; 65 non-adults) were recovered from 115 graves. Some graves were reused, with up to nine individuals in the same grave. Estremoz was an Islamic city until the 13th century when it was definitely captured by the Portuguese King Sancho II.
Crato
Crato is also located in Alentejo, north of Estremoz. The osteological collection was excavated from the Monastery of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Flor da Rosa (built in 1356). During the excavation 85 skeletons were recovered (64 adults, 21 non-adults). Based on the analysis of the coins present in some of the burials this necropolis was used during the 16th century, after the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta left.