Articles producció científica> Història i Història de l'Art

Unraveling Neolithic sharp-blunt cranial trauma: Experimental approach through synthetic analogues

  • Identification data

    Identifier: imarina:9291930
    Authors:
    Moreno-Ibáñez MÁFibiger LSaladié P
    Abstract:
    Interpersonal violence in the past is studied from different perspectives, one of which is experimentation. Using analogues to the human skeleton it is possible to replicate fractures found in the archaeological record and understand how they were produced. The main objective of this paper is to describe and differentiate sharp-blunt force cranial trauma caused by stone axes and adzes, to test previous interpretations of an archaeological case. This will create a comparative frame of reference for future studies. In the present experiment, seven Synbone polyurethane spheres were used as analogues to the human skull. These were covered with rubber skin, filled with ballistic gelatin, and fixed in a way that allowed some mobility when struck. This system creates a skin-skull-brain-neck model. A replica of a stone axe and adze were used as weapon-tools, simulating a face-to-face attack. The results of the experiment showed that there are a series of characteristics that differentiate the fracture pattern associated with each one, confirming previous bioarchaeological interpretations. The differentiation between both weapon-tools through the resulting cranial trauma allows conclusions about the direction of the blow and the position of the attacker with respect to the victim. This provides a better reconstruction of the most likely scenario surrounding the confrontation and the possible cause of death of the individuals, which is especially important during the Neolithic period, when this type of cranial trauma is very common.
  • Others:

    Author, as appears in the article.: Moreno-Ibáñez MÁ; Fibiger L; Saladié P
    Department: Història i Història de l'Art
    URV's Author/s: Saladié Ballesté, Palmira
    Keywords: Weapon-tool Synbone sphere Stone axe Stone adze Skull-brain model Skull Fracture pattern weapon-tool warfare violence stone axe stone adze skull projectile impact marks injuries head trauma fracture pattern force trauma discrimination bone blows
    Abstract: Interpersonal violence in the past is studied from different perspectives, one of which is experimentation. Using analogues to the human skeleton it is possible to replicate fractures found in the archaeological record and understand how they were produced. The main objective of this paper is to describe and differentiate sharp-blunt force cranial trauma caused by stone axes and adzes, to test previous interpretations of an archaeological case. This will create a comparative frame of reference for future studies. In the present experiment, seven Synbone polyurethane spheres were used as analogues to the human skull. These were covered with rubber skin, filled with ballistic gelatin, and fixed in a way that allowed some mobility when struck. This system creates a skin-skull-brain-neck model. A replica of a stone axe and adze were used as weapon-tools, simulating a face-to-face attack. The results of the experiment showed that there are a series of characteristics that differentiate the fracture pattern associated with each one, confirming previous bioarchaeological interpretations. The differentiation between both weapon-tools through the resulting cranial trauma allows conclusions about the direction of the blow and the position of the attacker with respect to the victim. This provides a better reconstruction of the most likely scenario surrounding the confrontation and the possible cause of death of the individuals, which is especially important during the Neolithic period, when this type of cranial trauma is very common.
    Thematic Areas: Saúde coletiva Química Planejamento urbano e regional / demografia Odontología Medicina veterinaria Medicina ii Materiais Interdisciplinar History Historia Geosciences, multidisciplinary Geociências Engenharias ii Engenharias i Ciencias sociales Ciencias humanas Ciências biológicas iii Ciências biológicas ii Ciências biológicas i Ciências agrárias i Biotecnología Biodiversidade Astronomia / física Archeology (arts and humanities) Archeology Archaeology Antropologia / arqueologia Anthropology
    licence for use: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/
    Author's mail: palmira.saladie@urv.cat
    Author identifier: 0000-0002-1730-8461
    Record's date: 2024-08-03
    Papper version: info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
    Link to the original source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305440323000171
    Licence document URL: https://repositori.urv.cat/ca/proteccio-de-dades/
    Papper original source: Journal Of Archaeological Science. 151
    APA: Moreno-Ibáñez MÁ; Fibiger L; Saladié P (2023). Unraveling Neolithic sharp-blunt cranial trauma: Experimental approach through synthetic analogues. Journal Of Archaeological Science, 151(), -. DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2023.105739
    Article's DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2023.105739
    Entity: Universitat Rovira i Virgili
    Journal publication year: 2023
    Publication Type: Journal Publications
  • Keywords:

    Anthropology,Archaeology,Archeology,Archeology (Arts and Humanities),Geosciences, Multidisciplinary,History
    Weapon-tool
    Synbone sphere
    Stone axe
    Stone adze
    Skull-brain model
    Skull
    Fracture pattern
    weapon-tool
    warfare
    violence
    stone axe
    stone adze
    skull
    projectile impact marks
    injuries
    head trauma
    fracture pattern
    force trauma
    discrimination
    bone
    blows
    Saúde coletiva
    Química
    Planejamento urbano e regional / demografia
    Odontología
    Medicina veterinaria
    Medicina ii
    Materiais
    Interdisciplinar
    History
    Historia
    Geosciences, multidisciplinary
    Geociências
    Engenharias ii
    Engenharias i
    Ciencias sociales
    Ciencias humanas
    Ciências biológicas iii
    Ciências biológicas ii
    Ciências biológicas i
    Ciências agrárias i
    Biotecnología
    Biodiversidade
    Astronomia / física
    Archeology (arts and humanities)
    Archeology
    Archaeology
    Antropologia / arqueologia
    Anthropology
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