Taphonomic Context of Sharp-Force Trauma in Suspected Cases of Human Mutilation and Dismemberment

Symes, Steven A.; Williams, John; Murray, Elizabeth; Hoffman, Jaco; Holland, Thomas D.; Saul, Julie Mather; Saul, Frank P.; Pope, Elayne

doi:10.1201/9781420058352.ch21

Cited by 24 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…As the number of regional studies increases, it is likely that future work can present new evidence of the violence associated with Spanish Conquest and either bolster or challenge written historical accounts. The injurious effects of 16th century weapons and firearms, particularly with unusual and atypical types of projectiles, promises to be a fruitful area of future research for those interested in correlating injuries to the skeleton with causative implements, perhaps modeled after similar studies in forensic anthropology (e.g., Symes, 1992;Humphrey and Hutchinson, 2001;Tucker et al, 2001;Symes et al, 2002). …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Sharp force trauma was identified on the presence of cut or stab wounds, incisions, parallel striations along the cut area, shaving, and hinging, with some injuries also presenting with characteristics of blunt force trauma (e.g. hacking trauma) (Hutchinson, 1996;Humphrey and Hutchinson, 2001;Tucker et al, 2001;Symes et al, 2002;Williamson et al, 2003). Numerous archaeological examples of injuries from bladed or metal edged implements, such as swords, have been published (for examples, see Ingelmark, 1939;Anderson, 1996;Hutchinson, 1996;Novak, 2000;Weber and Czarnetzki, 2001;Williamson et al, 2003;Mitchell Owens, 2007;Paine et al, 2007;Jiménez-Brobeil et al, 2009).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Violence and weapon‐related trauma at Puruchuco‐Huaquerones, Peru

Murphy

Gaither

Goycochea³

et al. 2010

American J Phys Anthropol

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Conquest of indigenous peoples in North America is understood primarily through ethnohistorical documents, archaeological evidence, and osteological analyses. However, in the Central Andes, the colonial enterprise and its effects are understood only from postcontact historical and ethnohistorical sources. Few archaeological and bioarchaeological studies have investigated Spanish Conquest and colonialism in the Andean region [for exceptions see Klaus and Tam: Am J Phys Anthropol 138 (2009) 356-368; Wernke, in press; and Quilter, in press]. Here we describe bioarchaeological evidence of violence from the cemeteries of Huaquerones and 57AS03 within the archaeological zone of Puruchuco-Huaquerones, Peru (circa A.D. 1470-1540). A total of 258 individuals greater than 15 years of age were analyzed for evidence of traumatic injuries. Individuals were examined macroscopically and evidence of traumatic injuries was analyzed according to the skeletal element involved, the location of the injury on the skeletal element, and any additional complications of the injury. This study examines and compares the evidence of perimortem injuries on skeletonized individuals from the two cemeteries and focuses specifically on the interpretation of weapon-related perimortem injuries. Evidence of perimortem trauma is present in both cemeteries (18.6%, 48/258); however, the frequency of injuries in 57AS03 is greater than that in Huaquerones (25.0% vs. 13.0%). Several injuries from 57AS03 are consistent with documented cases of injuries from firearms and 16th Century European weapons. We believe that the nature and high frequency of perimortem trauma at 57AS03 provide evidence of the violence that occurred with Spanish Conquest of the Inca Empire.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Violence and weapon‐related trauma at Puruchuco‐Huaquerones, Peru

Murphy

Gaither

Goycochea³

et al. 2010

American J Phys Anthropol

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“…All the cranial injuries had characteristics consistent with sharp force trauma (Courville & Kade, 1964;Wenham, 1989;Novak, 2000;Symes et al, 2002). Accidental trauma can be considered extremely unlikely due to the nature and number of the cranial injuries, but should be considered as a differential diagnosis for the soft tissue trauma.…”

Section: Diagnosis Of the Cranial Injuriesmentioning

confidence: 94%

Cranial trauma and treatment: a case study from the medieval cemetery of St. Mary Spital, London

Powers

2004

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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Excavation of the cemetery of the medieval priory of St. Mary-without-Bishopsgate, Spitalfields, London from 1998-2001, recovered the remains of over 10,000 individuals. Following initial assessment, skeleton 19893 was found to have suffered three cranial injuries caused by a sharp edged implement. The remains were those of a middle aged adult male of around 172.4 cm in stature, truncated at the hips by a later feature. The remaining elements were well preserved. The cranial injuries were well healed, suggestive of some degree of post-traumatic care. Evidence of possible surgery was also found. Soft tissue complications would undoubtedly have followed the assault. Battle related trauma was considered, together with evidence of treatment. Whilst the demographic profile of the individual fitted a plausible one for a professional fighter of the medieval period, no firm evidence of occupation could be provided. The case study indicates both the ability of medieval people to survive major trauma and the wealth of information full analysis of the Spitalfields assemblage will provide the osteological community.

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“…Stature was evaluated using the regression equations of Santos (2002) applicable on the metatarsal bones. Macroscopic identification of perimortem trauma followed the standard guidelines of forensic anthropology literature (Symes et al, 2002;Kimmerlee and Baraybar, 2008;Symes et al, 2012;Berryman et al, 2013;Quatrehomme, 2015); in addition to the recommendations of the Scientific Working Group for Forensic Anthropology (2011).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Three cases of feet and hand amputation from Medieval Estremoz, Portugal

Fernandes

Liberato

Marques

et al. 2017

International Journal of Paleopathology

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A B S T R A C TPeri-mortem limb amputations are rarely reported in the paleopathological literature. The cases reported here concern severing of both hands and feet observed in three adult male skeletons, exhumed from the medieval Portuguese necropolis of Rossio do Marquês de Pombal, Estremoz, Portugal. The fact that they were found in the same site, in graves placed side by side, that all are young males, and that the three skeletons show similar perimortem injuries, make this a unique case meriting detailed analysis. Considering the lesions' location and pattern, as well as historical data, we hypothesize that this is a case of amputation as a consequence of judicial punishment. Estremoz was an important city in sustaining the Royal power at a regional scale during the medieval period.

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Taphonomic Context of Sharp-Force Trauma in Suspected Cases of Human Mutilation and Dismemberment

Cited by 24 publications

References 4 publications

Violence and weapon‐related trauma at Puruchuco‐Huaquerones, Peru

Violence and weapon‐related trauma at Puruchuco‐Huaquerones, Peru

Cranial trauma and treatment: a case study from the medieval cemetery of St. Mary Spital, London

Three cases of feet and hand amputation from Medieval Estremoz, Portugal

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