Childhood Cranial Trauma from a Late Roman and Merovingian Context from Michelet, Lisieux, France

Abstract

The Michelet necropolis in Lisieux, France, dating to the late Roman and Merovingian period, comprises of a large number of well-preserved subadult remains offering a unique opportunity to better understand childhood trauma in the past. The focus of this study was to determine the amount, type and mechanisms of trauma evidenced in subadults from the 4th-8th century AD, and explore potential circumstances surrounding the trauma. The remains of 109 subadults from the Michelet necropolis were examined for the presence of cranial and post-cranial trauma. Three individuals exhibited perimortem trauma, one individual had an antemortem cranial injury, and no cases of post-cranial trauma were identified. Cranial trauma affected 4.1% of children with observable cranial remains (N = 4/97). The children affected were young (2-7 years old), making it unlikely that they would have participated in militaristic activities. Based on the location, morphology and mechanism of injury identified, it is likely that the perimortem injuries sustained by three children were not accidental. The presence of a number of cranial injuries from this site may be related to increased stress in the community related to the decline of the Roman Empire in Gaul, possible raiding barbarian groups during the 4th-5th centuries, or stresses related to the Gallic aristocracy solidifying political powers in northern Gaul during the 5th-7th centuries AD. The consideration and inclusion of childhood trauma in bioarchaeological analyses allows for a more detailed and in-depth understanding of violence and childhood in the past. Copyright

Violence targeting children or violent society? Craniofacial injuries among the pre‐Hispanic subadult population of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands)

“…The results indicate a high rate of traumatic craniofacial injuries in the subadult population over 5 years (21.54%), values that are much greater than those determined for other archaeological groups in different contexts and chronologies (Fibiger, ; Gaither & Murphy, ; Krakowka, ; Lewis, , ; Timmins et al, ). A recent study of more than 300 adult individuals at Guayadeque in Gran Canaria (Delgado‐Darias et al, ) reports a high prevalence of craniofacial injuries (27.4%; 95/347).…”

“…The results indicate a high rate of traumatic craniofacial injuries in the subadult population over 5 years (21.54%), values that are much greater than those determined for other archaeological groups in different contexts and chronologies (Fibiger, 2014;Gaither & Murphy, 2012;Krakowka, 2017;Lewis, 2007Lewis, , 2014Timmins et al, 2017). A recent study of more than 300 adult individuals at Guayadeque in The research carried out to date for the island of Gran Canaria points to violence as the main cause of this type of trauma especially when considering position, dimensions, and typology (Bosch-Millares, 1975;Delgado-Darias et al, 2017;Owens, 2007).…”

“…This may have reached the point of not being visible (Gaither & Murphy, 2012;Jones, 2003;Lewis, 2014). Although it is impossible to estimate the number of these cases, it can be inferred that cranial lesions represent only a part of those suffered by the subadult population, perhaps only those of greater severity (Timmins et al, 2017;Walker, 2001).…”

“…The data available for Gran Canaria show a global scenario marked by frequent situations that would endanger the fragile balance between the size of the population and the amount of available resources, resulting in a widespread state of stress. Different studies suggest that populations subject to social, political, environmental, or economic pressures experience an increase in violence, including that perpetrated against subadults (Gaither, 2012;Lewis, 2007;Timmins et al, 2017;Tung, Miller, De Santis, Sharp, & Kelly, 2016 , 1999). Therefore, if we add the interpersonal competition of political and social order to the conditions described above, it becomes simpler to explain a model of widespread physical violence extending to large sectors of the population, including subadults.…”

“…The depressed type is based on its form (circular, oval, triangular, or irregular). Recording of each injury also consisted of identifying the location, characteristics of the lesion, state of healing, and dimensions (Timmins, Seréville‐Niel, & Brickley, ). Furthermore, BFT to the face (mandible, maxillary, nasal, zigomatic bone, and orbit) were differentiated in order to better characterize wound patterns (Galloway & Wedel, ; Lovell, ; Martin & Harrod, ).…”