Forensic Evaluation of Crania Exhibiting Evidence of Sharp Force Trauma Recovered from Archaeological Excavations

The authors examined human skulls originating from the eighth to thirteenth centuries AD obtained from the repository of the Anthropology Department of the Hungarian Natural History Museum. The skulls underwent direct visual examination as well as spiral CT imaging provided by the Department of Radiology and Oncotherapy Semmelweis University. Most of the skulls exhibited slash wounds, but there were also stab wounds. We have determined that some of the victims survived their injuries, as evidenced by the CT images in which the bone defects had smoothed edges indicating healing in these cases. The implements which inflicted these wounds on the ancient victims' skulls were characteristic of the close quarters and long range weapons in use during their respective periods.