Sharp Force Trauma

A review of New York City dismemberment cases occurring between 1996 and 2017 was conducted, which resulted in a total of 55 dismembered decedents in a 22-year period. Annual trends indicate an average of 2.5 dismembered decedents. Additional results show that 53% of cases involved transection only, 35% involved disarticulation only, and 13% involved a combination of both. When the entire body could be accounted for, the average number of body portions per case was 5.5. Frequent locations for dismemberment were the neck, shoulders, hips, and knees. Dismemberment locations showed a general trend of anatomical symmetry. Seventy-eight percent of the dismemberments involve disposal of body parts in an outside location. Eighty-four percent were concealed from view with some type of covering. The findings from New York City are compared with other studies.

Sharp-force trauma is a popular cause of homicide and suicide in many countries. Characterisation of the injuries between the two is crucial for a differential diagnosis. The current paper reviews 12 self-inflicted sharp-force trauma deaths from the island of Crete in Greece. Forensic reports between 1999 and 2015 were collated, and we studied the number and location of injuries, the demographic characteristics of the deceased, the sharp object and the medical history of the deceased. One third of the cases where the forensic reports were available (3/10) involved multiple injuries, and one case involved a combination of stabbing and hanging. Most injuries involved a kitchen knife. Ninety-two per cent (11/12) of the victims involved male Greek nationals aged >50 years. The type and location of injuries were not found to be specific to suicide alone. Thus, death-scene investigation remains crucial to the differential diagnosis between suicide and homicide. This is the first report on self-inflicted sharp-force fatalities in Greece.

By integrating osteological, taphonomic, archaeological, and stable isotopic data, we test for cannibalism in the Lau Group, Fiji, and discuss the potential underlying cause(s) and context(s) of this behavior. First, we compare taphonomic and element representations of human skeletal material from two contexts in Fiji, examining human bone fragments from archaeological sites, including middens and burials in the Lau Island Group. Fourteen sites produced human remains. Only two of those sites included distinct human burial contexts, but in the remaining 12 sites, the human bone was recovered from middens or contexts where midden was mixed with possible secondary burials. A total of 262 NISP, representing an estimated 15 MNI make up the Lau human assemblage. Second, we analyzed bones contained in 20 individual human burials from four different sites that are housed at the Fiji Museum for comparative purposes. Third, we examine previously published stable isotopic (δ13C, δ15N) analysis of bone collagen to gauge protein consumption of likely cannibalized humans in midden contexts and potential cannibals from primary burials. We model a cannibalistic diet category within the context of isotopically-measured Pacific Islands food groups and apply an isotopic mixing model to gauge plausible dietary contributions from six sources including human flesh. Isotopic mixing models of the Lauan samples illustrate a high diversity in reconstructed diets. The percent contribution of human flesh is low for all individual Lauans. We conclude that mortuary rituals evidenced by sharp-force trauma (SFT) may suggest non-nutritive and nonviolent practices that may have included the consumption of small amounts of human flesh.

Sharp-force trauma analysis is a crucial part of the post-mortem examination in forensic cases. Forensic experts have been interested in the connection of the bone features of cut marks to the class characteristics of the bladed media, in order to enable the identification of a suspect weapon by the police. Many morphometric studies have been conducted to develop methods for the accurate assessment of sharp-force trauma. However, the equipment implicated is expensive and invasive. The purpose of this study is to investigate the damage of kerf, shape of cut kerf and striations of cut marks on porcine femurs using the digital 3D scanner NextEngine, and also generate virtual models of the related knives. An experimental process was scheduled beginning with the infliction of 45 wounds in overall on fleshed porcine femurs using a serrated, a non-serrated and a semi-serrated knife. Afterwards, the remains were defleshed, macerated and received a quality control via stereoscope. Finally, NextEngine scanner was used to generate 3D models of the cuts, the femurs and the knives. The analysis of the cut mark models showed that it was possible to detect the damage of the kerf on the mark models for all the three blades, with the marks related to the serrated knife presenting greater damage. The shape of the kerf was also observed successfully on the models of the lesions, with a Y-shaped kerf for the serrated and semi-serrated and a T-shaped kerf for the non-serrated blade marks. The striations were not possible to be examined in the majority of the cuts for the serrated knife, neither from the scanner not from the stereoscope, while no related pattern was observed on the non-serrated and semi-serrated knife marks. The comparison among the stereoscopic and 3D observation indicated NextEngine scanner as a better equipment for the examination of the indicated morphological features. In parallel, high-quality models were generated for the femurs, as opposed to the knife models which presented problematic structure. The results of this thesis are important and underline the potential of NextEngine in sharp-force trauma analysis on bone as a non-invasive equipment. Further research of its performance and development of the chosen methodology can enable its application for preliminary examination in actual forensic cases in the future.

Archaeological residues of ritual are often ephemeral, and reconstructing the dynamics of performed actions that create
deposits can be difficult. Rituals associated with the dead are common across many cultures since all human groups have
specific means of disposing of corpses. Evidence of peri- and postmortem manipulation of human remains, such as cutting,
dismemberment, or disarticulation can provide details of the sequence of actions performed related to the circumstances
surrounding death and the possible social meaning of those behaviors. Cut marks observed on the upper chest and throat
of 93 percent of 117 children and men found interred at the Temple of the Sacred Stone at Túcume, Peru are consistent with
three symbolic behaviors: cutting the throat, opening the chest cavity, and decapitation. This patterning of skeletal trauma
demonstrates that a highly elaborate series of violent ritual behaviors was carried out on a regular basis at this location,
beginning in the Late Intermediate Period (~A.D. 1100) through to the end of the Late Horizon Inca occupation of the site
around A.D. 1532. The recent finds of bioarchaeological evidence of ritual violence across the Andes suggests that, although
rare, these mortuary remains provide important clues to the elaborate nature of ritual behaviors at different sites.

La mortalidad perinatal se define como el conjunto de muertes que tienen lugar entre las 28 semanas de gestación y la primera semana de vida. La mortalidad infantil contabiliza los fallecimientos que se producen a lo largo del primer año de vida (World Health Organization 2006).

Excavation of the historic period cemetery in Č epin, Croatia revealed the presence of a large number of perimortem injuries distributed among males, females, and subadults. Archaeological and historical data suggest these individuals were victims of a raid carried out by Turkish akinji light cavalry in 1441. Comparisons with the frequencies of perimortem trauma in 12 other, temporally congruent skeletal series from the Balkans (n 5 2,123 skeletons) support this assumption. The role of the akinji in the Ottoman army was twofold: to supply war captives, and to terrorize and disperse local populations before the advance of regular troops. This article tests the hypothesis that the purpose of the 1441 raid was the latter. To accomplish this, perimortem trauma in the series were analyzed by sex, age, location, and depth of

The authors of the present work evaluate the trauma observed on the skeletal remains of an individual from medieval Gloucester and reconstruct the events that led to his death. The almost complete skeleton was recovered from the cemetery of St Owen and dates to the late medieval period. Several methods were used to determine the sex and age of the individual. The anthropological examination showed that the remains belonged to a young male, between the ages of 17 and 19 years. The young man also had antemortem pathologies that were related to his diet and lifestyle, as he appears to have had iron-deficiency anemia and Schmorl nodes. The trauma observed on the remains consisted of 3 cut marks located on the cranium, left radius, and right scapula. The cuts seem to have been inflicted by a heavy weapon, such as a sword. The trauma pattern observed is consistent with defensive action, and the fact that this skeleton was the only one in the collection that has evidence of trauma suggests...

Apstrakt: Cilj ovog rada je da prikaže značaj skeleta i njegov doprinos u boljem proučavanju perioda u kojima su ljudi bili podložnim nasilnim povredama. Kao i da prikaže učestalost nasilja kroz periode ljudske istorije. Nasilje ne mora da dolazi spolja, već može da proizilazi iz sukoba unutar zajednice. Oslanjam se na kranijalni skelet, s obzirom da on najviše trpi nasiline povrede, u odnosu na postkranijalni skelet za koji se najviše vezuju povrede koje nastaju slučajnim (nesrećnim) putem. U radu su u kraćim crtama prikazani termini i podela povreda na koje se forenzički i fizički antropolozi oslanjaju prilikom analize ljudskih skeletnih ostataka.
Ključne reči: nasilne povrede, kranijalni skelet, nasilje

The current work concerns the anthropological study of skeletal remains of two young adults involved in violent – and possibly related to war – combats. The two cases described are young male adults who both belong to the same territorial context and chronological span, between the Greek-Gothic war and the Lombard invasion, a period of great social and political upheavals in Italy, especially in Northern Apulia. This research is based on historical, archaeological, anthropological and paleopathological sources and it focuses on the role of young adults in Medieval society, especially during wars, showing labour differences defined by gender or age. Furthermore, the trauma analysis, such as the one which caused a death by beheading, allows us to reconstruct the dynamics, to hypothesize the weapons used, so that we can recreate a profile of the assaulters and the performance of certain rituals after the fighting. Finally, we can attest the presence of foreign fighters – maybe mercenaries or invaders – in Medieval Italy.

Excavation of the historic period cemetery in Čepin, Croatia revealed the presence of a large number of perimortem injuries distributed among males, females, and subadults. Archaeological and historical data suggest these individuals were victims of a raid carried out by Turkish akinji light cavalry in 1441. Comparisons with the frequencies of perimortem trauma in 12 other, temporally congruent skeletal series from the Balkans (n = 2,123 skeletons) support this assumption. The role of the akinji in the Ottoman army was twofold: to supply war captives, and to terrorize and disperse local populations before the advance of regular troops. This article tests the hypothesis that the purpose of the 1441 raid was the latter. To accomplish this, perimortem trauma in the series were analyzed by sex, age, location, and depth of the injury. A total of 82 perimortem injuries were recorded in 12 males, 7 females, and 3 subadults. The demographic profile of the victims suggests that young adults were specifically targeted in the attack. Significant sex differences are noted in the number, distribution, and pattern of perimortem trauma. Females exhibit significantly more perimortem injuries per individual, and per bone affected, than males. The morphology and pattern of perimortem trauma in females is suggestive of gratuitous violence. Cumulatively, analysis of the osteological data suggest that the objective of the 1441 akinji raid was to spread terror and panic in the Čepin area, either as revenge for recent military setbacks, or as part of a long-term strategy intended to depopulate the area around Osijek. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The authors of the present work evaluate the trauma observed on the skeletal remains of an individual from medieval Gloucester and reconstruct the events that led to his death. The almost complete skeleton was recovered from the cemetery of St Owen and dates to the late medieval period. Several methods were used to determine the sex and age of the individual. The anthropological examination showed that the remains belonged to a young male, between the ages of 17 and 19 years. The young man also had antemortem pathologies that were related to his diet and lifestyle, as he appears to have had iron-deficiency anemia and Schmorl nodes. The trauma observed on the remains consisted of 3 cut marks located on the cranium, left radius, and right scapula. The cuts seem to have been inflicted by a heavy weapon, such as a sword. The trauma pattern observed is consistent with defensive action, and the fact that this skeleton was the only one in the collection that has evidence of trauma suggests...

Suicide is an act of intentionally terminating one's own life. Although suicide rates vary across demographic categories, they have increased by approximately 60% in the last 50 years. Many studies of adolescent suicidal behavior have noted impulsivity to be a common feature in the younger age group, while with older people there is evidence of planning and a strong intent to die. In fact, older people are most successful as an age group with approximately one in four attempts resulting in death. While very comprehensive statistics are available on many aspects of this problem for the Turkish population as a whole, this data does not include physical factors like illnesses, legal domiciles like nursing homes, economic standards and history of attempted suicides. This necessary data would add greatly to the available data and accuracy of research in this area. Whereas Turkish national risk factor procedures are available, precaution procedures and suicide attempt data is not. The...

Aim: To provide a detailed analysis and interpretation of cranial and postcranial lesions noted on an early medieval skeleton from the Italian Alps.
Materials: Individual (SK63) was buried within the early Christian church (5th-8th centuries AD) of Säben-Sabiona in South Tyrol (Italy).
Methods: The skeleton underwent macroscopic, microscopic and metric analyses.
Results: SK63 was a 19-25 year old male, the analysis identified at least 29 lesions, consisting of three possible antemortem injuries and 26 perimortem sharp force injuries on the cranium (n=4) and postcranium (n=22).
Conclusions: The trauma pattern observed indicates that different bladed weapons were used and interpersonal violence rather than a large- scale conflict led to the death of SK63.
Significance: The present findings provide novel information on violent interpersonal interactions in early medieval Säben-Sabiona, Italy.
Limitations: The sequence of the inflicted injuries was not reconstructed. 
Suggestions for Further Research: Future interdisciplinary investigations (i.e., 3D imaging and reconstructions) will aid a better understanding of the possible types of weapons used to inflict injuries, the required forces to create the lesions, as well as the directions of impact.

Suicide is an act of intentionally terminating one’s own life. Although suicide rates vary
across demographic categories, they have increased by approximately 60% in the last
50 years. Many studies of adolescent suicidal behavior have noted impulsivity to be a
common feature in the younger age group, while with older people there is evidence of
planning and a strong intent to die. In fact, older people are most successful as an age
group with approximately one in four attempts resulting in death. While very comprehensive
statistics are available on many aspects of this problem for the Turkish population as
a whole, this data does not include physical factors like illnesses, legal domiciles like
nursing homes, economic standards and history of attempted suicides. This necessary data
would add greatly to the available data and accuracy of research in this area. Whereas
Turkish national risk factor procedures are available, precaution procedures and suicide
attempt data is not. There is no way of knowing how many deceased had a history of
repetitions. It is suggested that this could be attributed to routine failure to observe and
mitigate risk factors. The size of this problem is being demonstrated with this presented
case report about a planned complex suicide with multiple sharp forced injuries and
substance intoxication; a completed suicide that was potentially preventable with timely
detection and intervention. In accordance, suicidal risk factors in the old age population,
precautions, along with the characteristics of this suicidal case, are evaluated within
existing published work.

Suicide is an act of intentionally terminating one's own life. Although suicide rates vary across demographic categories, they have increased by approximately 60% in the last 50 years. Many studies of adolescent suicidal behavior have noted impulsivity to be a common feature in the younger age group, while with older people there is evidence of planning and a strong intent to die. In fact, older people are most successful as an age group with approximately one in four attempts resulting in death. While very comprehensive statistics are available on many aspects of this problem for the Turkish population as a whole, this data does not include physical factors like illnesses, legal domiciles like nursing homes, economic standards and history of attempted suicides. This necessary data would add greatly to the available data and accuracy of research in this area. Whereas Turkish national risk factor procedures are available, precaution procedures and suicide attempt data is not. There is no way of knowing how many deceased had a history of repetitions. It is suggested that this could be attributed to routine failure to observe and mitigate risk factors. The size of this problem is being demonstrated with this presented case report about a planned complex suicide with multiple sharp forced injuries and substance intoxication; a completed suicide that was potentially preventable with timely detection and intervention. In accordance, suicidal risk factors in the old age population, precautions, along with the characteristics of this suicidal case, are evaluated within existing published work.

The information that can be derived from the rate of preservation of cremated human remains is highly valuable for forensic anthropologists and bioarchaeologists. Especially when taphonomic agents, such as fire, are intentionally introduced to obscure lesions on the skeleton. When sharp force trauma is present on bones, one of the main questions that arise is whether it is possible to tell what instrument was used for trauma infliction. This study used quantitative methods to examine kerfs on bones treated with heat as a taphonomic agent. The experiment used three sharp-bladed weapons to inflict trauma on porcine long bones: a single bladed non-serrated kitchen knife, a hacksaw, and a wood saw. The traumatised bones along with control bones were burnt in controlled laboratory conditions at temperatures ranging from 300°C to 1000°C. Quantitative analysis was undertaken on scanning electron microscopy images. Shrinkage of the kerf dimensions were recorded only at 1000°C; excepting marks from the wood saw, which instead showed an increase in maximum width. Individualisation of the saws was not possible using only the metric traits. However, the class of the weapons (knife versus saw) could always be identified. It has been concluded that burning may cause fluctuation in kerf widths.