The present research examined the effects of compound bows and crossbows on the remains of Sus scrofa and Odocoileus virginianus. Isolated pig heads and white-tailed deer necks were impacted by three forms of arrow heads: the broad-head tip, conical field-tip, and bullet field-tip from both the compound bow and the crossbow. The structural design of the arrowheads was examined to understand their level of impact, as well as, the velocities of the compound bow and crossbow were calculated and compared. The total number of impact marks for the experiment was 55. It was hypothesized that the compound bow would have a greater extent of trauma to bone than the crossbow due to the higher velocity created from a longer power stroke. It was also hypothesized that the broad-head arrow tip will create larger fracture patterns on bone due to the three-blade-prong design compared to the oval shape of both the conical field-tip and bullet field-tip. Through the use of one-way ANOVA and Pearson’s Chi-Square, the results show no direct correlation between the difference in the type of weapon used or the arrow tip used. The results show the vast majority of impacts are penetration with shapes that roughly resemble the cross-section of the type of tip used. The results, however, did not support both hypotheses due to the limited number of impact marks and sample size of the experiment. Further experiments are required to assess the extent to which it is possible to distinguish between arrow related osseous trauma.

The work of an international team of forensic experts led to the final determination that Salvador Allende, former Chilean president (1970-1973), committed suicide by firearm during the military coup against his socialist government on September 11, 1973. Included in the final report was the anthropologists’ skeletal trauma analysis documenting the gunshot trauma to the skull as consistent with the passage of a high velocity projectile under the chin and through the cranial cavity. The anthropological report was part of a multidisciplinary effort to finally address the questions surrounding the manner of Salvador Allende’s death, and to eliminate speculations that he was killed by the military. Although it is not the role of the anthropologist to determine manner of death in a forensic case, expertise in osteology and the biomechanics of high velocity projectile trauma to bone may contribute to the pathologist’s final conclusions about manner of death in firearm fatalities. Previous research looking at variation between homicides and suicides in firearm fatalities has used soft tissue trauma analysis and autopsy reports to identify common characteristics specific to these manners of death. They have found that anatomic location of entrance trauma, bullet direction, number of shots, and range of fire are important factors in understanding this variation. Anthropological research has not explored these differences as they are expressed on the skeleton, however; knowledge of variation in skeletal gunshot trauma, between self-inflicted and other-inflicted gunshot wounds, can better equip anthropologists to report pertinent information that can lead to accurate determinations of manner of death. The current study explores the factors of anatomic location of entrance trauma, bullet direction, and number of shots, with additional consideration to fracture severity and fracture patterns, in place of range of fire. The William M. Bass Donated Skeletal Collection and the Antioquia Modern Skeletal Reference Collection provided a total sample of 15 suicide and 19 homicide cases for this analysis. This research found that localized entry sites to the front and right sides of the head and to the chest were common in suicides. Entries to the left and front sides of the head and to the posterior side of the head and body were common in homicides. Further analysis of sequence of shots and entry sites revealed that the front of the head, common in both homicides and suicides, was more common in secondary gunshot wounds in homicides. Bullet directions common in suicides were right to left through the sagittal plane, and anterior to posterior through the coronal plane. The left to right direction through the sagittal plane was most common for homicides, whereas the anterior to posterior and posterior to anterior directions through the coronal plane were almost equally represented in homicides. Further analysis of sequence of shots and bullet direction revealed that the anterior to posterior direction was more common in secondary gunshot wounds in homicides. The transverse plane did not show statistically significant differences between homicides and suicides for either the inferior to superior or superior to inferior directions. For number of shots, homicides more commonly expressed multiple gunshot wounds and suicides more commonly expressed single gunshot wounds. Fracture severity analyses revealed that the presence of tertiary fractures (concentric fractures) in entrance wounds was more common in suicides. The presence of secondary fractures (radiating fractures) as the most severe fracture in entrance wounds was more common in homicides. These results suggest that fracture severity is higher in suicides, based on the amount of kinetic energy dispersed at impact, although it is unclear what factor influences these differences (range of fire, type of firearm, caliber of bullet, etc.). There was also a significant difference between homicides and suicides in fracture patterns for both entrance and exit wounds. These findings are based on a small sample and should be considered with caution, especially for use in a forensic setting. Further research is crucial to better understanding the variations seen in this study. Specifically, sequencing of shots should be further explored for its utility in distinguishing homicides and suicides as well as providing a better understanding of multi-shot cases. Additionally, more research should be conducted on fracture severity and fracture patterns with specific consideration to the factors that influence the variation seen between homicides and suicides.

Este trabalho avalia, desde uma perspectiva bioarqueológica, diversos indicadores ósseos de estresse e de violência física nas populações que foram sepultadas na península de Paracas, costa sul do Peru, durante o final do Horizonte Temprano (400 a.C - 100 d.C). Tal período é essencial na história da complexificação social dos Andes Centrais, porque coincide com o colapso da tradição Chavín que previamente integrava diversas organizações políticas, causando fragmentação regional e surgimento de sociedades diversificadas com elites disputando o poder. Durante o final do Horizonte Temprano várias regiões andinas exibiram arquitetura defensiva, altas frequências de traumas violentos e iconografia que incluía cenas de violência e de possível conflito. Além disso, dados publicados para outros sítios contemporâneos da região sugerem a existência de um período de crise com profundas mudanças sociopolíticas. Para nos aproximarmos do impacto que teve esse processo na qualidade de vida das pessoas sepultadas na península de Paracas, foram estimadas a estatura adulta, prevalências de hipoplasias do esmalte dentário, cribra orbitalia, hiperostose porótica, lesões do periósteo, traumas, trepanações cranianas e modificação intencional do crânio, numa coleção de 307 esqueletos escavados por J.C Tello entre 1925-1930. Esses indivíduos foram sepultados durante duas fases consecutivas: Cavernas (sítio Cerro Colorado) e Necrópolis (sítios Warikayán e Arena Blanca). Durante o período Cavernas observamos menor estatura adulta masculina e maiores prevalências nos indicadores de estresse e de traumas cranianos em comparação ao período Necrópolis. Nesta última fase, que coincide com o aparecimento de grupos associados à tradição Topará, observamos variação no tipo geral de modificação craniana, menor exposição aos traumas cranianos, aumento da estatura masculina e redução na prevalência de indicadores ósseos de estresse, sugerindo melhoras nas condições gerais de vida. Esta pesquisa fornece novos dados para compreender o impacto das mudanças nos processos de complexificação social sobre a qualidade de vida que aconteceram nos Andes Centrais / This research uses a bioarchaeological perspective to analyze various skeletal stress markers and violence-related trauma in the populations buried on the Paracas peninsula, south coast of Peru, during the final Early Horizon period (400 B.C - AD.100). This period, in the complex social history of Andean population is transformative because of the decline of the highland Chavin culture that previously integrated various socio-political organizations, which led to regional fragmentation and local elites vying for political control. During this period were found, defensive architecture, high prevalence of cranial trauma, and warrior iconography in various Andean archaeological sites. In addition, published data for contemporaneous sites suggests a crises period that lead to major sociopolitical changes. To assess the impact this process had on the quality of life, this study estimates the adult stature and prevalences of enamel hypoplasia, cribra orbitalia, porotic hyperostosis, periosteal lesions, skeletal trauma, cranial trepanation, and cranial vault modification in 307 skeletons from the J.C Tello collection, excavated between 1925 and 1930 on the Paracas peninsula. Those individuals were buried in two successive cultural periods: Cavernas (Cerro Colorado site) and Necrópolis (Warikayán and Arena Blanca sites). In the Cavernas period a shorter male stature and a higher prevalence in the stress markers and cranial trauma were observed. The subsequent Necropolis period, influenced by Topará groups, showed differences in cranial vault modification types, significant reduction of cranial trauma, increases in male stature, and lower prevalence of skeletal stress markers. This findings suggest a more stable period with better life conditions. These results provide new insight into the impact of social complexity on the development of Andean population\'s quality of life

Rib fractures are present in 25 percent of all trauma-related deaths, making the mechanism and pattern of rib fractures an important area of trauma research (Lien et al. 2009). Rib fractures are important to consider when researching trauma because they can cause serious complications contributing to an individual's mortality. This retrospective research study focuses on rib fracture patterns in fatal motor vehicle accidents (MVAs). The sample consists of 105 MVA victims--68 males and 37 females. Data was collected at the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office in Tampa, Florida. The study investigates motor-vehicle-related deaths from 2011 to 2013 to establish rib fracture patterns in association with several variables. Fractures of the manubrium and sternum are included in the analyses since the ribs articulate in several places with the manubrium and sternum and they are frequently injured in MVAs. First, this research study investigates the rib fracture patterns that exist in correlation to soft tissue organ injury. Injuries to the heart, lungs, liver, diaphragm, and spleen were analyzed based on their direct contact with the ribcage. The results show that several significant relationships exist, including that lung injury is about 12 times more likely to occur when a fracture is present in the left middle ribs and 4 times more likely to occur when there is a fracture on the manubrium. Heart injury is found to be 9 times more likely to occur when the sternum is fractured and the liver is found to be 4 times more likely when the right middle ribs are fractured and 0.3 times more likely when the right high ribs are fractured. Second, this study examines rib fracture patterns controlling for seatbelt use, airbag deployment, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) administration. Each of these variables is tested to determine their influence in causing injury and the fracture patterns resulting from accidents. For drivers, specifically, it is also tested if fracture patterns can predict seatbelt use. The results show a significant relationship between fracture of the left low ribs and seatbelt use. In drivers, it is 5 times more likely that the individual was wearing a seatbelt if the left low ribs are fractured. Lastly, a significant relationship was found for fractures of the manubrium and CPR administration. Finally, this research study aims to predict the number of ribs fractured by an individuals' age. Progressive mineralization of the skeleton and other age-related changes increase the risk of fracture in elderly individuals. The results of this study indicate a significant, positive correlation between age and the total number of rib fractures sustained in MVAs, supporting the presumption that elderly are at a higher risk for rib fractures.

Este trabalho avalia, desde uma perspectiva bioarqueológica, diversos indicadores ósseos de estresse e de violência física nas populações que foram sepultadas na península de Paracas, costa sul do Peru, durante o final do Horizonte Temprano (400 a.C - 100 d.C). Tal período é essencial na história da complexificação social dos Andes Centrais, porque coincide com o colapso da tradição Chavín que previamente integrava diversas organizações políticas, causando fragmentação regional e surgimento de sociedades diversificadas com elites disputando o poder. Durante o final do Horizonte Temprano várias regiões andinas exibiram arquitetura defensiva, altas frequências de traumas violentos e iconografia que incluía cenas de violência e de possível conflito. Além disso, dados publicados para outros sítios contemporâneos da região sugerem a existência de um período de crise com profundas mudanças sociopolíticas. Para nos aproximarmos do impacto que teve esse processo na qualidade de vida das pessoas sepultadas na península de Paracas, foram estimadas a estatura adulta, prevalências de hipoplasias do esmalte dentário, cribra orbitalia, hiperostose porótica, lesões do periósteo, traumas, trepanações cranianas e modificação intencional do crânio, numa coleção de 307 esqueletos escavados por J.C Tello entre 1925-1930. Esses indivíduos foram sepultados durante duas fases consecutivas: Cavernas (sítio Cerro Colorado) e Necrópolis (sítios Warikayán e Arena Blanca). Durante o período Cavernas observamos menor estatura adulta masculina e maiores prevalências nos indicadores de estresse e de traumas cranianos em comparação ao período Necrópolis. Nesta última fase, que coincide com o aparecimento de grupos associados à tradição Topará, observamos variação no tipo geral de modificação craniana, menor exposição aos traumas cranianos, aumento da estatura masculina e redução na prevalência de indicadores ósseos de estresse, sugerindo melhoras nas condições gerais de vida. Esta pesquisa fornece novos dados para compreender o impacto das mudanças nos processos de complexificação social sobre a qualidade de vida que aconteceram nos Andes Centrais / This research uses a bioarchaeological perspective to analyze various skeletal stress markers and violence-related trauma in the populations buried on the Paracas peninsula, south coast of Peru, during the final Early Horizon period (400 B.C - AD.100). This period, in the complex social history of Andean population is transformative because of the decline of the highland Chavin culture that previously integrated various socio-political organizations, which led to regional fragmentation and local elites vying for political control. During this period were found, defensive architecture, high prevalence of cranial trauma, and warrior iconography in various Andean archaeological sites. In addition, published data for contemporaneous sites suggests a crises period that lead to major sociopolitical changes. To assess the impact this process had on the quality of life, this study estimates the adult stature and prevalences of enamel hypoplasia, cribra orbitalia, porotic hyperostosis, periosteal lesions, skeletal trauma, cranial trepanation, and cranial vault modification in 307 skeletons from the J.C Tello collection, excavated between 1925 and 1930 on the Paracas peninsula. Those individuals were buried in two successive cultural periods: Cavernas (Cerro Colorado site) and Necrópolis (Warikayán and Arena Blanca sites). In the Cavernas period a shorter male stature and a higher prevalence in the stress markers and cranial trauma were observed. The subsequent Necropolis period, influenced by Topará groups, showed differences in cranial vault modification types, significant reduction of cranial trauma, increases in male stature, and lower prevalence of skeletal stress markers. This findings suggest a more stable period with better life conditions. These results provide new insight into the impact of social complexity on the development of Andean population\'s quality of life

Yes / The opportunity to assess human skeletal remains from Norton Priory, near Runcorn (Cheshire), led to the discovery of peri-mortem blade trauma on an adult male skeleton. The burial evidence suggests that this individual was a wealthy knight and lay benefactor of the priory in the thirteenth century and skeletal evidence has revealed that he was the victim of inter-personal violence. Additionally, many skeletal elements were affected by advanced Paget’s disease, which may have resulted in a certain level of vulnerability due to restricted movement of his arms as a result of Pagetic thickening of the bones. This is the only evidence found of weaponrelated trauma on the Norton Priory skeletal assemblage, making it a rare case and contributing to our understanding of inter-personal violence associated with an ecclesiastical establishment in medieval Britain.