No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the authors.
An Accident at Work? Traumatic lesions in the skeleton of a 4th millennium BCE “wagon driver” from Sharakhalsun, Russia
Abstract
The study of ante-mortem trauma is a popular and important aspect of palaeopathological analysis. The majority of publications focus on a particular assemblage, skeletal element or type of fracture, with case studies of single individuals with multiple/unusual traumata being much rarer in the literature. This paper presents the case of an adult male from the Bronze Age site of Sharakhalsun, Russia, buried, uniquely, in a sitting position on a fully assembled wagon, who displayed evidence for multiple healed ante-mortem fractures of the cranium, axial and appendicular skeleton. The mechanisms and likely etiologies of the fractures are presented, with reference to modern and 19th century clinical literature, and possible interpretations suggested: that the individual was involved in a severe accident involving a wagon or draft animals, or both, a number of years before his death. The suggestion is also made that the unique burial position of the individual was a form of commemoration by the community of the survival and recovery of the individual from such a serious incident.
... Anterior and posterior view of two separate ribs showing healing fractures of the sternal ends. The fractures have clear callus formation of deposited woven bone around the fracture margins (seeBrickley, 2006;Tucker et al. 2017). Scale: 2 cm divided into 1 cm increments. ...
... Cut-mark on right parietal bone (seeVan de Vijver and Kinnaer, 2014). Red arrow indicates the possible cut-mark. ...
While bioarchaeological work is more evident in Cyprus, forensic studies associated with ancient Cypriot skeletal material are extremely rare. Recent rescue excavations by the Department of Antiquities at the Ayia Napa Monastery revealed a burial site dating to the 17th-19th c. AD. Numerous cases of trauma have been identified in this assemblage but at the moment in most cases it is not possible to determine whether the traumatic injuries are the result of intentional violence or occupational accidents. One of the aims of this project is to report the incidence of traumatic injuries among ancient Cypriot skeletal material, trace patterns of injury between known accidental and intentional trauma cases, and obtain important forensic and sociocultural information on Post-Medieval populations in Cyprus. However, since this study is still at an early stage, the purpose of this poster is to describe some traumatic cases from the population buried at the Ayia Napa Monastery.
... The patterns of degenerative change in the bones of wagon drivers is, however, not distinct from that of other people (Tucker et al. 2017). All drivers demonstrate severe degeneration of the spine and ribs, followed by the joints in the lower extremities. ...
Innovation is the social act of appropriating new practices or techniques into an existing life. During the late 4th millennium BC, the populations of the North Caucasus and the neighbouring steppe adopted animal traction and vehicles into their lifescapes. The representation of this innovation,
however, suggests different intellectual discourses in the appropriation process. The Maikop communities selected the powerful driving force – cattle teams – for their burial representations, whereas the steppe communities chose to highlight the means of transportation – wagons. While the one emphasised a new form of extended labour and neglected the objects of traction, the other highlighted the new means of transportation and mobility, disregarding the ‘engines’ in the process. This article discusses the different
ways the same innovation can be appropriated in different communities and draws upon bioarchaeological studies to question the practical relevance of these innovations for the everyday life of the adopting societies.
The flanks of the Caucasus Mountains and the steppe landscape to their north offered highly productive grasslands for Bronze Age herders and their flocks of sheep, goat, and cattle. While the archaeological evidence points to a largely pastoral lifestyle, knowledge regarding the general composition of human diets and their variation across landscapes and during the different phases of the Bronze Age is still restricted. Human and animal skeletal remains from the burial mounds that dominate the archaeological landscape and their stable isotope compositions are major sources of dietary information. Here, we present stable carbon and nitrogen isotope data of bone collagen of 105 human and 50 animal individuals from the 5th millennium BC to the Sarmatian period, with a strong focus on the Bronze Age and its cultural units including Maykop, Yamnaya, Novotitorovskaya, North Caucasian, Catacomb, post-Catacomb and late Bronze Age groups. The samples comprise all inhumations with sufficient bone preservation from five burial mound sites and a flat grave cemetery as well as subsamples from three further sites. They represent the Caucasus Mountains in the south, the piedmont zone and Kuban steppe with humid steppe and forest vegetation to its north, and more arid regions in the Caspian steppe. The stable isotope compositions of the bone collagen of humans and animals varied across the study area and reflect regional diversity in environmental conditions and diets. The data agree with meat, milk, and/or dairy products from domesticated herbivores, especially from sheep and goats having contributed substantially to human diets, as it is common for a largely pastoral economy. This observation is also in correspondence with the faunal remains observed in the graves and offerings of animals in the mound shells. In addition, foodstuffs with elevated carbon and nitrogen isotope values, such as meat of unweaned animals, fish, or plants, also contributed to human diets, especially among communities living in the more arid landscapes. The regional distinction of the animal and human data with few outliers points to mobility radii that were largely concentrated within the environmental zones in which the respective sites are located. In general, dietary variation among the cultural entities as well as regarding age, sex and archaeologically indicated social status is only weakly reflected. There is, however, some indication for a dietary shift during the Early Bronze Age Maykop period.
This study is the description of the diseases detected on a human skeleton coming from
the Late Antiquity Period in France (Solliès-Toucas series, South-East of France). During
the examinations, the authors detected a highly probable case of a young-age polytraumatism:
the fracture and shortening of the left humeral diaphysis, luxation and necrosis
of the proximal humeral epiphysis, fractures of the ribs, the mandible and the right clavicle.
The changes of the normal activities and functions of the arms led to spectacular differences
between the two side forearm bones. The bone reamains of the individual present
signs of congenital disorder, of a serious degenerative joint disease, activity-induced
pathologies and hyperostosic disease, as well.
The origin and development of wheeled vehicles continues to fascinate today no less than when Stuart Piggott (1974) first wrote about the subject in Antiquity 40 years ago. A growing number of examples from the steppes of southern Russia and Ukraine are providing new insights into the design and construction of these complex artefacts. A recent example from the Ulan IV burial mound illustrates the techniques employed and the mastery of materials, with careful selection of the kinds of wood used for the wheels, axles and other elements. Stable isotope analysis of the individual interred in this grave showed that he had travelled widely, emphasising the mobility of steppe populations. Supplementary material is provided online at
IntroductionHistory of Activity StudiesMethodological ConsiderationsProspects for Future ResearchReferences
Fractures are ubiquitous in the archaeological record but the majority of these are the consequence of a traumatic incident and do not reflect any loss of strength inherent to the bone. So-called fragility fractures, particularly hip fractures, are considered uncommon occurrences in skeletal populations from the past. Nevertheless, evidence of this type of fracture in the archaeological record is increasing. A methodical search for possible hip fractures in the excavation reports, theses and monographs housed in the Department of Anthropology of the University of Coimbra presented an occasion to describe six hip fractures, previously unpublished, from different Portuguese archaeological sites and to challenge the widespread assumption that hip fractures were nearly non-existent in the past.
An archaeological case of clay-shoveler's fracture was observed in an adult male exhumed from a Roman necropolis dated to the 1st–3rd century AD and located in the city of Barcelona, Spain. Clay-shoveler's fracture is a breakage of a lower cervical or upper thoracic spinous process as a result of mechanical stress. Different mechanisms have been related to this injury, generally in labour-related contexts. This paper reviews the literature concerning this uncommon finding, focusing especially on its mechanism and on activity-related lesions. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
One hundred and fifteen unworn anterior teeth were sectioned longitudinally with a diamond saw and prepared for histological examination by polarized light microscopy. Incremental markings in the enamel of each tooth were used to estimate the average total crown formation times of each tooth type. The total time taken to form the crowns of each tooth type was apportioned by 1) cuspal enamel formation and 2) each tenth percentile of total tooth height. Based on these data, and on histological estimates for the time of initiation of mineralization in each anterior tooth, the following conclusions can be drawn. Little if any visible surface enamel is likely to form before the end of the first year after birth in any anterior tooth type. No relation exists between tooth crown height and the total time taken to form enamel. Anterior crown formation is nonlinear and slows towards the cervix in all teeth. The estimated mean chronological age at crown completion ranged in this study from between around 4 years for lower central incisors to around 6 years for lower canines. We suggest that these combined findings will be useful for devising more reliable ways to estimate the timing of linear enamel hypoplasias than some methods currently in use. Am J Phys Anthropol 113:135–139, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
To test the historically documented hypothesis of a general increase in deliberate violence in the eastern Adriatic from the antique (AN; 2nd-6th c.) through the early medieval (EM; 7th-11th c.) to the late-medieval period (LM; 12th-16th c.), an analysis of the frequency and patterning of bone trauma was conducted in three skeletal series from these time periods. A total of 1,125 adult skeletons-346 from the AN, 313 from the EM, and 466 from the LM series-were analyzed. To differentiate between intentional violence and accidental injuries, data for trauma frequencies were collected for the complete skeleton, individual long bones, and the craniofacial region as well as by type of injury (perimortem vs. antemortem). The results of our analyses show a significant temporal increase in total fracture frequencies when calculated by skeleton as well as of individuals exhibiting one skeletal indicator of deliberate violence (sharp force lesions, craniofacial injuries, "parry" fractures, or perimortem trauma). No significant temporal increases were, however, noted in the frequencies of craniofacial trauma, "parry" fractures, perimortem injuries, or of individuals exhibiting multiple skeletal indicators of intentional violence. Cumulatively, these data suggest that the temporal increase in total fracture frequencies recorded in the eastern Adriatic was caused by a combination of factors that included not only an increase of intentional violence but also a significant change in lifestyle that accompanied the transition from a relatively affluent AN urban lifestyle to a more primitive rural medieval way of life.
Serious injury secondary to all terrain vehicle usage has been widely reported since the 1970s. All-terrain vehicles (ATV) or 'quad bikes' are four wheeled vehicles used for agricultural work, recreation and adventure sport. Data collected in the U.S. indicates that ATV related injury and fatality is increasing annually. PRESENTATION OF CASES: This case series describes 3 cases of significant ATV related trauma in adults presenting to one regional hospital in the West of Ireland over a 12month period.
Epidemiology, mechanisms of injury, spectrum of injury in adults and preventative measures to reduce the number of ATV related injuries and fatalities are discussed here with a review of the literature.
A paucity of research outside of North America is highlighted by this case series. Mandatory reporting of ATV related injury, educational, training and legislative measures are suggested as injury prevention strategies.
The Bronze Age in Europe has been the subject for some books over the years, including Coles and Harding’s The Bronze Age in Europe and Jacques Briard’s The Bronze Age in Barbarian Europe. This handbook aims to add relevant information about the Bronze Age, and covers Bronze Age Europe outside the Aegean area. It is split into two main parts, which provide a thematic approach (Part I) and geographical approach (Part II) to the study of the European Bronze Age. The first part presents various articles on themes and topics about the Bronze Age in Europe, such as warfare, animal husbandry, and burial practices. The second part describes some European countries during the Bronze Age, including Scandinavia, the western Balkans, and Iberia.
Earlier clinical and bioarchaeological studies found that injury recidivists were most likely to be young adult males. Since then, the clinical meaning of the injury recidivist has expanded to include all individuals with multiple injuries, and other aspects of health have been considered. Our study sought to apply these advances to paleopathology and place multiple injuries in a wider context by investigating: the age and sex distribution of those with single and multiple fractures, and if people with multiple injuries had poorer general health. The sample of 213 males and 190 females (≥18 years old) from six populations in England, Siberia, and Sudan ranged in date from the 3rd century BC to the mid‐19th century AD. Health variables included cribra orbitalia, porotic hyperostosis, periostitis, Schmorl's nodes, enamel hypoplasias, dental caries, and periodontitis. Ante‐mortem injuries were: fractures (0/1/≥2), myositis ossificans, dental trauma, and sharp‐force injuries. The data were analysed using chi‐square and hierarchical loglinear analyses ( P = 0.05).
No significant three‐way association between age, sex, and injury was found. There was no difference between the sexes when individuals with single versus multiple injuries were compared. There were significant differences in the age‐distribution of people with 0 and 1/≥2 fractures. Males and those 26–35 years old were most likely to have fractures and multiple injuries. Porotic hyperostosis was significantly associated with fractures. There was no significant relationship between general poor health and multiple injuries. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
If radiocarbon measurements are to be used at all for chronological purposes, we have to use statistical methods for calibration. The most widely used method of calibration can be seen as a simple application of Bayesian statistics, which uses both the information from the new measurement and information from the 14 C calibration curve. In most dating applications, however, we have larger numbers of 14 C measurements and we wish to relate those to events in the past. Bayesian statistics provides a coherent framework in which such analysis can be performed and is becoming a core element in many 14 C dating projects. This article gives an overview of the main model components used in chronological analysis, their mathematical formulation, and examples of how such analyses can be performed using the latest version of the OxCal software (v4). Many such models can be put together, in a modular fashion, from simple elements, with defined constraints and groupings. In other cases, the commonly used “uniform phase” models might not be appropriate, and ramped, exponential, or normal distributions of events might be more useful. When considering analyses of these kinds, it is useful to be able run simulations on synthetic data. Methods for performing such tests are discussed here along with other methods of diagnosing possible problems with statistical models of this kind.
This book provides an overview of Bronze Age societies of Western Eurasia through an investigation of the archaeological record. Philip L. Kohl outlines the long-term processes and patterns of interaction that link these groups together in a shared historical trajectory of development. Interactions took the form of the exchange of raw materials and finished goods, the spread and sharing of technologies, and the movements of peoples from one region to another. Kohl reconstructs economic activities from subsistence practices to the production and exchange of metals and other materials. He also examines long-term processes, such as the development of more mobile forms of animal husbandry, which were based on the introduction and large-scale utilization of oxen-drive wheeled wagons and, subsequently, the domestication and riding of horses; the spread of metalworking technologies and exploitation of new centers of metallurgical production; changes in systems of exchange from those dominated by the movement of luxury goods to those in which materials essential for maintaining and securing the reproduction of the societies participating in the exchange network accompanied and/or supplanted the trade in precious materials; and increasing evidence for militarism and political instabilities as reflected in shifts in settlement patterns, including increases in fortified sites, and quantitative and qualitative advances in weaponry. Kohl also argues forcefully that the main task of the archaeologist should be to write culture-history on a spatially and temporally grand scale in an effort to detect large, macrohistorical processes of interaction and shared development.
It was hypothesized that men and women living in the border provinces of the Roman Empire may have encountered different risks associated with their different occupations and activities. Limb bone trauma data were used to assess sex-based differences in physical hazards and evidence for fracture healing and treatment. Two hundred and ten skeletons were examined from a late 1st to early 4th century AD cemetery at Aquincum (Budapest, Hungary). Upper and lower limb bone fracture types, frequencies, distributions, and associated complications were recorded, and gendered patterns in injury risks were explored. Of the 23 fractures identified, both sexes had injuries indicative of falls; males exhibited the only injuries suggestive of higher-energy and more direct forces. Most fractures were well-healed with few complications. The extremity trauma at Aquincum suggests that people buried here experienced less hazardous physical activities than at other Roman provincial sites. The patterns of trauma indicate the occurrence of "traditional" gender roles, whereby male civilians participated in more physically dangerous activities than females. Additionally, treatment may have been equally accessible to men and women, but certain fracture types proved more challenging to reduce using the techniques available.
This article identifies activity-related changes to, traumatic injuries on, and pathological conditions of the human remains of the Chinese immigrants from Carlin, Nevada, who were interred between 1885 and 1923. Chinese males came to the Americas to work as railroad laborers and miners, and when the railroad was completed many went home, but some found work in small towns. In Carlin, Chinese immigrants were employed as merchants, shopkeepers, cooks, laundry workers, and a variety of other occupations. Within this immigrant group, there were differences in the degree of physical labor each individual experienced. According to historical records, this was a time of increasing anti-Chinese sentiments, and there are accounts of intergroup conflict with the politically dominant settlers. However, little is known about the biological correlates of this sociopolitical inequality. An analysis of these correlates is assessed as a means for understanding patterns of social, economic, and political inequality between these immigrants and the local population. The findings demonstrate that socioeconomic and political inequality experienced by the Carlin individuals resulted in high rates of activity-induced changes, trauma, and pathological conditions. Furthermore, examination of the relationship between cranial trauma and other types of skeletal injuries supports research that has shown trauma to the head can predispose people to other types of trauma (accidental or deliberate). The results support the historical accounts of the time that indicate hard physical labor, accidental or deliberate trauma, and interpersonal conflict were part of the life history of this group of Chinese immigrants.
Significance
Neurocranial fractures and their aftermath took a toll on people in premodern societies, much like today. Archaeological information on skeletal trauma, however, typically consists of mere tallies of injuries, much like other disease-related lesions. We quantify the increased risk of dying for men with healed cranial vault fractures, an approach that can be adapted to any pathological condition. In medieval to early modern Denmark, head-injured men experienced a relative risk of dying about double that of modern people, probably in large part because of differences in medical care and social support. This approach provides a means of measuring the extent, hence consequences, of excess injury and disease-related mortality across the full range of human societies extending into the distant past.
Over the past two decades, many articles have been published on entheseal changes (usually called “Musculoskeletal Stress Markers”) as activity markers in past societies. Over-simplified methods and over-interpretation of past activities have generated strong critiques of research results in this area of enquiry. While some significant improvements regarding the recording systems for entheseal changes have been applied more recently, many bioarchaeologists appear not yet to be fully aware of the multi-factorial aetiology of these alterations. In this article, we review the anatomical and clinical literature to discuss some of the difficulties associated with the recording of entheseal changes and the multiple factors leading to their appearance in the human skeleton. Thus far fibrocartilaginous entheses appear to hold more promise for activity-related reconstruction than do fibrous ones, but these relationships remain an area of active research interest. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bioarchaeologists have conducted numerous studies on human skeletal remains using metacarpal cortical bone radiogrammetry. This method allows cortical thickness of the second metacarpal to be quantified. As a sensitive index of bone health metacarpal cortical thickness is evaluated in the context of functional adaptations, growth, ageing and bone loss in osteoporosis, as well as used as a reliable indicator of fracture risk. The focus of this study is an examination of the widely used calculation that expresses second metacarpal cortical bone values, followed by an examination of age and sex-related patterns of cortical bone loss and skeletal fragility fracture in a Neolithic archaeological skeletal sample from Çatalhöyük, Turkey. Using metacarpal radiogrammetry, 49 adult metacarpals (f = 27 m = 22) were examined. Data were collected for size variables, length (L) and total bone width (TW) as well as quantity variables, medullary width (MW) and cortical thickness (CT). These parameters were then used to calculate the widely used cortical index (CI) and two new indices expressing medullary width and cortical bone thickness in relation to length (medullary width index, MWI and cortical thickness index, CTI). The ratios were then used to explore age- and sex-related cortical bone loss and fragility fracture patterns amongst the inhabitants of Çatalhöyük. Çatalhöyük males and females demonstrate an inverse relationship where CTI decreases as age and MWI increase. Analyses indicate statistically significant age-related change in MWI amongst the oldest females. Despite age-related loss of bone, no typical fragility fractures are observed. We discuss the role of ageing and lifestyle factors at Çatalhöyük that may have been beneficial to skeletal health and a reduction in the risk of fragility fracture.
Traumatic injuries to the scapula have received little attention in the paleopathological literature. They are
rarely encountered in medical emergencies today due to the overlying muscles that protect the bone; they
comprise just 1% of all fractures. This collaborative project brings together five cases of bilateral fractures
of the scapulae in four ancient populations from three different time periods and three continents (France,
Sudan and USA). It is thus an opportunity to interpret bilateral scapula fracture etiology by suggesting a
cause that could have been present in all contexts, namely direct trauma such as might take place during
beating with heavy sticks or other blunt force weapons. We also argue that oval defects with rounded
margins in scapular bodies are less likely to be congenital anatomical variants than the result of healed
trauma.
Many people believe that so-called whiplash injury or disease is something new, a highly disputed mixture of muscular pain and nervous symptoms in the head, neck and upper limbs caused by vehicular accidents. However, the term ‘whiplash’ is only a description of the mechanism—the quick extensive movement of the head caused by the acceleration of the body—for example, by a rear-end car crash. Of course, there are many possible ways to achieve the same injury in the ligaments of the neck: for example, by falling from a horse or being knocked out in a fight. A male skeleton from the Middle Ages displays typical changes which lead us to believe that the person may have suffered from severe neck trauma years before his death. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
We report on the palaeopathology of a medieval skeleton of a young adult male with multiple traumatic fractures found in 1989 in Piazza della Signoria, Florence, Italy. The skeleton presents ante mortem fractures of the right ulna and femur, and left tibia and fibula. We reconstruct the dynamics of the accident based on the location and type of fractures. Then we discuss the impact of this severe trauma on the subject's living conditions based on articular and enthesic modifications of the skeleton. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and burden of trauma recidivism at a regional Level 1 trauma center by incorporating the concept of the past trauma history (PTHx) into the general trauma history.
All trauma patients who met prehospital trauma criteria and activated the trauma team during a 13-month period were asked about their PTHx, that is, their history of injury in the previous 5 years. A recidivist presented more than once for separate severe injuries. Recurrent recidivists presented multiple times during the study period.
Of the 4,971 trauma activations during the study period, 1,246 (25.2%) were identified as recidivists. Recidivists were 75% male, 62% white, 36% unemployed, 26% uninsured, and 90% unmarried. The recidivism rate among admitted patients was 23.4% compared with 29.3% in those discharged from the emergency department. The highest recidivism rates were noted in patients who reported alcohol or illegal drug use on the day of injury and in victims of interpersonal violence (IPV), defined as those who sustained gunshot wounds, stab wounds, or assaults, Those involved in IPV were more likely to have been involved in IPV at the previous trauma than those with other trauma mechanisms. Key risk factors for recidivism among all patients were male sex and single marital status. Seventy-three patients (1.5%) were recurrent recidivists, representing 157 unique encounters.
This is the highest trauma recidivism rate reported on a large population of all consecutive trauma activations at a regional Level 1 trauma center. These data illustrate the tremendous burden of recidivism in the modern era, more than previously recognized. Efforts specifically targeting those involved in IPV may reduce recidivism rates. Incorporating the concept of the PTHx into the general history of the trauma patient is feasible and provides valuable information to the provider.
Prognostic study, level II.
Os odontoideum is an uncommon abnormality of the second cervical vertebra, the aetiology of which is contentious. Whether congenital or acquired, the condition often results in atlantoaxial instability and subsequent compression of cervical cord or vertebrobasilar vessels. The bioarchaeological study of a medieval sample from the Christian necropolis of Cacela Velha (Algarve, southern Portugal) provided the opportunity to describe one of the first cases of this rare anomaly ever reported in the palaeopathological record. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
This 1000-page book contains over 1700 illustrations, is presented in two volumes and subdivided into 23 chapters. After brief chapters of Introduction and General Anatomy, a section on Skeletal Biomechanics is presented. The Epidemiology of Fractures chapter examines, among other things, the effects of age on the frequency and distribution of fractures. In the chapter on Classifications of Fractures, the author describes the character of traumatic forces such as angulating, torsional, avulsive, and compressive, and then relates these to the resultant fracture configurations. The Fracture Treatment chapter presents an overview of treatment principles. Other chapters deal with specific problems in pediatric trauma, fracture healing and nonhealing, and fracture complications.
A THEORETICAL REGROUPING OF PERSONALITY TYPES BASED ON STUDIES OF INDIVIDUAL REACTION TO PAIN. THE 3 TYPES ARE THE AUGMENTER, THE REDUCER, AND THE MODERATE, AND THESE TYPES OF REACTION ARE FOUND TO EXTEND TO THE WHOLE RANGE OF SENSORY EXPERIENCE. INCLUDES STUDIES OF THIS THEORY WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF PAIN, ALCOHOLISM, SCHIZOPHRENIA, AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. THE BASIC APPARATUS USED TO MEASURE REDUCTION AND AUGMENTATION IS DESCRIBED. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Background., Injuries from encounters with large animals represent a significant health risk for rural communities. We evaluated our regional trauma centers' experience with large-animal injuries to determine whether certain mechanisms and patterns of injury predicted either major head/craniofacial or torso (chest/abdomen/pelvis) trauma. Methods: The hospital courses of 145 patients with injuries related to large animals were reviewed retrospectively to determine patterns of injury, specific injury mechanisms, species-specific injuries, and predictors of multiple body region trauma. Results: Seventy-nine patients (55%) were injured by horses, 47 patients (32%) by bulls, 16 patients (11%) by cows, and 3 patients (2%) by wild animal attacks. The predominant species-specific mechanisms of injury were fails (horses), tramplings (bulls), and kicks (cows). Brain/craniofacial injuries were most common from horse-related encounters (32%), whereas bull and cow encounters usually resulted in torso injuries (45% and 56%, respectively). Multiple body region injuries occurred in 32% of patients, Fractures of the upper extremities were more often associated with torso and head/craniofacial injuries (48%) than lower extremity injuries (17%) (p = 0.02). Conclusion: Large animal injuries frequently involve multiple body regions with species-specific mechanisms. Upper extremity injuries are associated with a significantly higher percentage of torso and head/craniofacial injuries, which may have implications for field triage.
An adult male from a multiple burial at the centre of an early Bronze Age barrow displays a healed fracture of the tibial condyle. Apparently, this is the first reported evidence for this type of fracture in British archaeological material. It provides evidence for care and compassion in the prehistoric period. Also, it apparently indicates that high social status could be retained by an individual who was suffering from a physical incapacity. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Patterns of violence and the type and distribution of resulting injuries are highly culturally specific. In this study, skeletal data from a historic cemetery (St. Martin's, England) are combined with contemporary sources and modern clinical data to enable the patterning of violence-related injuries to be interpreted. Particular consideration was given to the possibility of a relationship between commonly occurring types of violence and those that are popular in sport. Phillip Walker (1997) suggested that the growth of fist fighting in the early-20th-century United States was stimulated by the rising popularity of boxing. At St. Martin's, a pattern of injuries consistent with fighting in a style specific to boxing is evident, suggesting that developing boxing styles were influential in 18th- and 19th-century Britain as the accepted way of settling interpersonal disputes. This research underlines the importance of interpreting skeletal data in their specific cultural context to gain the maximum information on patterns of behavior.
Two complete skeletons from the Hamman-Todd collection of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History (CMNH) show a suite of pathological lesions that suggest the individuals had been involved in boxing or other hand-to-hand combat. These lesions were studied and compared with medical and autopsy records. The aims of the research were to estimate the accumulated damage to the bones over time, to characterize the different types of the damage, and to establish criteria for hand-to-hand combat or violence for archaeological material. Our inspections showed that besides the muscle markings developed and the numerous healed fractures that are expected when someone is involved in such activities, other types of lesion are present that are helpful for a proper differential diagnosis. These are: degenerative changes at the lesser tuberosity of the humerus; focal necrotic changes/bone growth on the trochlea of the humerus; necrotic changes on the distal head of the ulna; bony patches on upper limb bones only; secondary centres of ossification failing to fuse (mainly in vertebrae and acromion); a huge conoid tubercle on the clavicle; bony spurs on the distal articular head of the metacarpals; necrotic changes on the femoral head next to the fovea and on the roof of the acetabulum; and a developed bony ridge for the attachment of the iliotrochanteric ligament.Finally, we propose a set of criteria that will help to identify people in archaeological material who were involved in hand-to-hand combat.
This work is an osteological study of four cases of Colles' fracture from a 3rd–4th century AD British archaeological site. Each case was from an elderly female. Investigation of the degree of malunion suggests lack of effective reduction for these fractures. The poor anatomical outcome appears generally to have resulted in poor functional outcome; detailed anatomical study provided evidence for impairment of function of the distal radioulnar joint, ulnocarpal abutment and scapholunate diastasis, conditions which would probably have caused long-term residual disability. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A topical trend in clinical research has been the study of repeat trauma, referred to by clinicians as “injury recidivism,” which lends itself to the assessment of accumulated injuries among ancient people. The present investigation examined the healed injuries among two archaeological skeletal samples from the Kerma period (ca. 2500–1500 BC) of Sudanese Nubia. Both groups were known to have a high prevalence of multiple trauma—80% of 54 adults from the rural sites (O16 and P37) located near Dongola and 42% of 212 adults from the urban site of Kerma sustained nonfatal injuries. It was observed that a higher frequency of multi-injured adults displayed one or more violence-associated injury (cranial trauma, parry fracture). When all injuries were considered 38% of individuals with violence-related injuries had other traumatic lesions in contrast to 22% of individuals who experienced injuries associated with accidental falls (e.g., Colles', Smiths', Galeazzi, and paired forearm fractures), although this difference was not significant. When only the skulls and long bones were evaluated 81% of adults with multiple injuries to these major bones bore one or more violence-related injuries, while 60% of adults with single injuries sustained violence-related injuries. Most individuals with multiple injuries were male and less than 35 years of age; there was no significant difference in the frequency of violence- or accident-related multiple injury between the rural and urban communities. Although it cannot be established whether or not some of an individual's injuries were experienced during simultaneous or independent incidents, the pattern of multiple injury among these two ancient Nubian skeletal samples reflected the profile of injury recidivism observed by modern clinicians cross-culturally. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bone fractures were analyzed from skeletal remains of 861 adult individuals from six cemeteries dating to the Late Medieval period in Serbia. Results of the study were compared to other cemetery populations (635 individual skeletons) of the same date and region in an attempt to understand fracture patterns. The association of types of fractures and their prevalence with sex, age at death, cemetery site, and information deriving from historical sources are discussed. Results showed that the long bone fracture frequency was 0.7%, and the majority of the fractures were the result of direct force. This rate is similar to some studies of contemporary British skeletal samples. However, it is much lower than for some other Old World sites. Cranial vault fractures had a rate of 6.7%, and of the facial skeleton, 1.3%; the frontal bone was the most affected of bones of the cranial vault. Injuries were more common on the upper extremities (0.8%) compared to the lower (0.6%). However, the fibula was the most fractured bone (2.8%), followed by the ulna (2.4%). This pattern is similar to three of six Late Medieval urban sites in Britain. These findings suggest that this rural community was exposed to a low risk of trauma, probably related mostly to accidents sustained during farming, and rarely to interpersonal violence. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2006. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Humans are constantly at risk of bone fractures, not only when threatened by personal violence, but also by the challenge of daily living. Because fractures are a cross-cultural phenomenon and are one of the more commonly observed skeletal lesions in archaeological collections, their presence provides a unique opportunity to compare living conditions, and thereby assess fracture risk in coexisting cultures. This study analyzed long bone fracture patterns of 212 sexed adults from the medieval leper hospital of St. James and St. Mary Magdalene in Chichester, England. The comparison of this hospital sample to other British medieval skeletal samples examined the level of health manifest in fracture etiology. The fracture frequency for this sample was 15.1%, with males accounting for 85.4% of the fractures. The fracture frequencies from the samples not affiliated with hospitals ranged from 3.3 to 5.6%. Because medieval urban lifestyle was notoriously difficult due to inadequate sanitation and living conditions, the overall health of the population at large was inferior, placing all at similar fracture risk. Therefore, more specific complications associated with the fractures were examined. Osseous modifications of the skeletons due to lepromatous leprosy were associated with 28% of individuals sustaining fractures. However, persons with the milder tuberculoid leprosy do not exhibit skeletal lesions, but are more prone to accident due to the earlier loss of sensory perception and visual impairment. It is argued that the presence of leprosy is underestimated in archaeological populations and may be a major contributing factor to the prevalence of fracture resulting from accidental falls. Am J Phys Anthropol 105:43–55, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
This report describes a defect on the right scapula of a 50 to 60 year old male slave who had been buried extra-muros in the Le Colombier cemetery of Vaison-la-Romaine (5th to 6th century AD) in Vaucluse, France. This injury can only be described as a stress fracture, most likely associated with heavy and persistent use of the humerus in abduction. Other bony defects on the skeleton included early signs of ossification of the glenohumeral joint, slight vertebral discopathy, and osteoarthrosis on the right hip. A relationship between scapular stress fractures and walking devices has been described in the current medical literature, and taking this in consideration, possible aetiologies for this scapular defect include either consistent use of a crutch or routine physical labour. Little information is available on either stress fractures or assisted walking devices in antiquity; therefore this information is a valuable contribution to palaeopathology. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Investigation of palaeopathological fractures has been shown to provide important information on past societies. However, despite the fact that rib fractures are amongst the most commonly recorded types of fractures in archaeological bone, little attention has been paid to them. Although there will be sites with badly preserved ribs, making their study difficult, this will not always be the case. Recent clinical investigations have highlighted the potential significance of rib fractures with regard to morbidity and mortality, and their importance in relation to health is now appreciated. This study investigates rib fractures in 352 adults from St. Martin's churchyard, Birmingham, England. The crude prevalence of rib fractures was found to be 15.6% and the true prevalence rate 2.3%. The majority of the fractures occurred in males, and those buried in vaults were less likely to have a fracture than individuals from earth-cut graves. In 11 individuals the fractures were healing at the time of death, and in these cases death was probably related to one of the complications that are frequently linked to fractured ribs. Certain types of accidents may have been linked to these more serious fractures, as 70% occurred in the same anatomical area. Other rib fractures were associated with pathological conditions, such as osteomalacia and osteoporosis. Overall, the study of the rib fractures in this collection provided valuable information that aided interpretation of the lifeways of individuals investigated. It is argued that where preservation permits, studies of fractures in archaeological bone should include ribs. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
After reviewing various systems of age determination based on analysis of the pubic bone, the discussion concentrates on the
collection and preparation of an extensive autopsy sample (n=1225) of pubic bones from modern individuals with legal documentation
of age at death (death and/or birth certificates). TheSuchey-Brooks method derived from this sample is described. TheAcsádi-Nemeskéri system is evaluated in terms of the documented collection and it is seen that their five stage method focuses only on the
early and late morphological changes. The intermediate stages, in which the ventral rampart is in process of completion, are
not described. Their suggested age ranges do not correspond with the documented modern sample. Based on these limitations
of theAcsádi-Nemeskéri method, applications of theSuchey-Brooks system are discussed.
The analysis of traumatic fractures can provide valuable information concerning the affects of sociopolitical factors upon
the health of prehistoric populations. However, such information can only be acquired by implementing a quantitative demographic
approach. The present research applies such a method to longbone fractures in two medieval Christian populations excavated
from ancient Nubia. Long-bones of two hundred and eighteen individuals from an early (550 to 750 A.D.) Christian cemetery
and 188 individuals from a late (750 to 1450 A.D.) Christian cemetery were examined for evidence of traumatic fracture. Analysis
included a determination of fracture rates, age and sex related fracture patterns, and rate of fracture per years at risk.
The results of this study indicate that the majority of fractures in both cemeteries were likely caused by accidental falls.
Fractures resulting from direct (possibly interpersonal) violence were found in both samples, though at a higher frequency
in the early Christian population (27% versus 16%). Middle-aged adults (particularly males) of the early cemetery exhibited
a higher than expected risk to fractures indicating an activity related cause of injury. In contrast, the late Christian population
showed a marked increase in fractures among both children and the elderly. This distribution may reflect changes in health
and residential architecture which occurred during the late Christian period.
Injuries classified as parry fractures, normally the result of a direct blow when the forearm is raised to shield the face, are significant in bioarcheological interpretations because the parry fracture is perceived as an indicator of interpersonal (or extramural) violence. It is therefore necessary that these injuries be correctly identified in order to properly interpret the trauma pattern and its social implications for abuse, gender and power relations among ancient people. Common acute forearm fractures are reviewed here and quantitative guidelines that define the parry fracture configuration are presented. The parry criteria include: (1) an absence of radial involvement, (2) a transverse fracture line, (3) a location below the midshaft (<0.5 adjusted distance to the lesion's center), and (4) either minor unalignment (<10°) in any plane or horizontal apposition from the diaphysis (<50%). A sample of 278 adults from northern Sudan dated to the Nubian Bronze Age (ca. 2500–1500 BC) contained 38 individuals with forearm fractures. Of these fractures, 21 out of the 28 ulna injuries were identified as parry fractures using the parry criteria. Fewer females suffered from parry fractures than when ulna injuries were identified by location on the ulna alone. The use of the parry criteria may not always affect the results significantly, but here interpersonal violence directed against women and amongst ancient Nubians was found to be less prevalent than implied in earlier studies. The absence of perimortem parry fractures suggests that the Kermans interred within mass burials were not physically forced to their graves. Chronic ulna stress fractures associated with sports and habitual activities must also be considered as a differential diagnosis of this injury.