Mortality in Roman Mainz

[Jona Lendering]

Aren't bell curves normal in such mortality samples?

In modern societies, yes. In pre-industrial society, it's a vase: of the initial cohort, one third dies in the first year, a second third dies before reaching adulthood (i.e., 12 or 13), and the final third has indeed a bell-curve shape.

[M. Demetrius]

Always good to keep in mind, in Mainz or anywhere: one unit of mortality is issued per person.