Weapon injuries in the crusader mass graves from a 13th century attack on the port city of Sidon (Lebanon)

Mikulski, Richard; Schutkowski, Holger; Smith, Martin J.; Doumet-Serhal, Claude; Mitchell, Piers D.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0256517

Cited by 6 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…As a result of the paleopathological examination, the bones found in the area were determined to have belonged to 3 different adult males (Table 3) (15). The lesion seen on the anterior region of the right femur bone in one of these three individuals extends linearly from top to bottom and shows slight bends; it is thought to be a possible piercing injury (Figure 1) (19,20). Upon examining the cut, the person is thought to have died shortly after receiving this blow as no signs of recovery were found.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 96%

The Mitochondrial Origins of the Hellenistic Individuals of Ayasuluk Hill

Tepgeç¹,

Görgülü²

2022

experimed

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Objective: The present study aimed to extract ancient DNA from the remains of three individuals from the 4 th century BC in order to determine the haplogroups through a mitochondrial DNA study, thus providing information about Anatolian migrations in ancient times. Materials and Methods:For this purpose, the study examined the remains of three bodies found at the bottom of the city walls from the archeological excavations between 2007-2008 and dated to the 4 th century BC. After taking anthropometric measurements, the study examined the mitochondrial HVR1 and HVR2 regions by using Sanger sequencing and then used online programs to evaluate the data from the sequencing. Results:As a result of the study, death due to a possible injury from a sharp object was observed on the right femur of one of the three individuals. The maternal haplogroups of the individuals were determined to belong to the T2b group of European origin. Conclusion:The present study obtained genetic information regarding three individuals found at the bottom of the ancient city walls on Ayasuluk Hill. These results will provide important information about the commander of the ruins found on the walls of the Ayasuluk Hill of the ancient city of Ephesus, which constantly changed hands during the Wars of the Diadochi.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 96%

The Mitochondrial Origins of the Hellenistic Individuals of Ayasuluk Hill

Tepgeç¹,

Görgülü²

2022

experimed

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“…While burning and destruction of a site does not necessarily indicate intentional violence, it has been observed at other battle sites (Mikulski et al, 2021; Mitchell et al, 2006). Weapons accompanying the remains were also commonly reported (Mikulski et al, 2021; Mitchell et al, 2006). These appear similar to those observed at Kaman‐Kalehöyük, which included a bronze sword on the floor of Room 148 (Omura, 1996) and a spearhead in Room 150 (Omura, 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…The healed sharp force trauma on the young adult male from the courtyard is clearly violence‐related because it was caused by a weapon. Healed weapon injuries on individuals from other battle sites may suggest that at least some were professional fighters (Mikulski et al, 2021; Nicklisch et al, 2017) and this could be the case for the individual from the courtyard at Kaman‐Kalehöyük.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Examining evidence for violence at the end of the Assyrian trading colonies period at Kaman‐Kalehöyük

Anderson

2024

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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The end of the Assyrian Trading Colonies Period (ATCP) in Anatolia represents a time of significant change in the region. Historical and archaeological evidence suggests that considerable conflict and turmoil were associated with the end of the ATCP, but thus far little evidence from human skeletal remains has been available to support this hypothesis. One of the largest human skeletal samples dating to the end of the ATCP has been excavated at Kaman‐Kalehöyük in central Anatolia. A minimum of 73 individuals have been found in and around areas of the site that have signs of destruction and burning. These individuals appear to be associated with a battle that occurred in the town in the mid‐18th century BCE. The results show that the victims of the battle included individuals of all age groups and both sexes. The degree of burning and fragmentation made the identification of perimortem trauma challenging; however, perimortem trauma was observed in at least two individuals. An additional five individuals had evidence of antemortem trauma that was likely the result of interpersonal violence prior to the attack on the town. The skeletal evidence for trauma further supports the idea that a battle occurred at the site. This battle may have also been a part of a regional pattern of violence corresponding with the end of the ATCP, as suggested by the textual and archaeological evidence.

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“…Prior to this, relatively few examples of lethal trauma to the cranium have been identified in this region of the eastern Mediterranean, dating to the Hellenistic (see Goldstein et al, 1981), Roman (Nagar, 2003, pp. 127–130), and medieval periods (Mikulski et al, 2021; Mitchell et al, 2006), although numerous other examples have been identified in historical textual sources (Mitchell, 2004, pp. 124–136).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Violence in Hasmonean Judea: Skeletal evidence of a massacre from 2nd–1st century BCE Jerusalem

Dittmar

Nagar

Arbiv

et al. 2022

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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During a salvage excavation conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority, a mass grave containing the skeletal remains from 124 individuals, many with evidence of weapon injuries, was discovered in a water cistern outside the Old City of Jerusalem.Radiocarbon dates derived from human bone and the date of the material finds suggest the skeletal remains date to the end of the 2nd century or the beginning of the 1st century BCE. The aim of this research is to analyze the weapon injuries in order to reconstruct the nature and context of this violence. The human skeletal remains from 23 individuals recovered from the cistern were selectively retained and examined macroscopically in a laboratory setting. Silicone casts of selected weapon injuries (n = 5) were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. Numerous examples of peri-mortem blunt-and sharp-force trauma were observed including evidence that at least 16 individuals were decapitated. The extent and nature of the observed injuries as well as the evidence of their haphazard deposition into the cistern suggest that these individuals were the victims of a massacre. As a highly visible act of violence, massacres are often used as a mechanism for social control. When contextualized, this skeletal assemblage is most likely evidence of a massacre that occurred during the reign of the Hasmonean king Alexander Jannaeus. This is the first archeological evidence for the use of socially sanctioned violence to legitimize the Hasmonean state and to maintain social control at the end of the 2nd century-early 1st century BCE.

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Weapon injuries in the crusader mass graves from a 13th century attack on the port city of Sidon (Lebanon)

Cited by 6 publications

References 41 publications

The Mitochondrial Origins of the Hellenistic Individuals of Ayasuluk Hill

The Mitochondrial Origins of the Hellenistic Individuals of Ayasuluk Hill

Examining evidence for violence at the end of the Assyrian trading colonies period at Kaman‐Kalehöyük

Violence in Hasmonean Judea: Skeletal evidence of a massacre from 2nd–1st century BCE Jerusalem

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