Crimes in the Past: Archaeological and Anthropological Evidence

Crimes in the Past: Archaeological and Anthropological Evidence edited by Tatyana Shvedchikova, Negahnaz Moghaddam and Pier Matteo Barone Archaeopress Archaeology Archaeopress Publishing Ltd Summertown Pavilion 18-24 Middle Way Summertown Oxford OX2 7LG www.archaeopress.com ISBN 978-1-78969-778-0 ISBN 978-1-78969-779-7 (e-Pdf) © Archaeopress and the individual authors 2021 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owners. This book is available direct from Archaeopress or from our website www.archaeopress.com Contents Introduction �� v Authors ��vi PART ONE SCIENCE APPLIED TO PAST CRIMES Wrapping the dead over the centuries �� 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................1 What is a crime? ��2 Wrapped Crime Scene .......................................................................................................................2 Conclusion ...........................................................................................................................................8 Bibliography ��9 How forensic geology can be a valuable support to investigate past crimes �� 11 Introduction .....................................................................................................................................11 Crimes in the past involving forensic geology ............................................................................12 Case study: discovery of an 8th-century burial ..........................................................................13 Soil analysis ......................................................................................................................................14 Analytical results .............................................................................................................................17 Discussion and conclusion ..............................................................................................................18 Bibliography ��19 Complementary investigations can help the forensic pathologist �� 21 Introduction .....................................................................................................................................22 Presentations of some tools useful in forensic anthropology and archaeology ....................22 PMCT ............................................................................................................................................22 Epifluorescence microscopy ....................................................................................................25 Scanning electron microscope (SEM) .....................................................................................26 Presentation of three cases ............................................................................................................27 First case ��27 Second case .................................................................................................................................29 Third case ....................................................................................................................................30 The utility of these tools for archaeologists ................................................................................31 Conclusion .........................................................................................................................................37 Bibliography ��37 i PART TWO FROM PREHISTORY TO MIDDLE AGES ‘An arrow in your spine’ �� 43 Introduction .....................................................................................................................................43 Finding forensic evidence for intentional killing in archaeological cases .............................44 Analyses of obvious killing scenarios .....................................................................................44 Projectile injuries as clear indicator for interpersonal violence and killing ...................45 Traces of violence on human remains as an indicator of murder ....................................48 Secondary traces as evidence ��53 Conclusion .........................................................................................................................................54 Bibliography ��54 Evidence of injuries and killings in the post-catacomb world (22,000–18,000 cal� BC) �� 58 Introduction .....................................................................................................................................58 The first group with arrowheads ..................................................................................................61 The Babino cultural circle ..............................................................................................................63 Lola cultural circle ...........................................................................................................................65 Second group ....................................................................................................................................66 Bibliography ��69 Comparative analysis of multiple burials from the Late Copper Age, Hungary �� 72 Introduction .....................................................................................................................................72 The archaeological context ............................................................................................................74 Methods ��75 Recovery methods .....................................................................................................................75 Osteological analysis .................................................................................................................76 Pottery analysis..........................................................................................................................77 Results................................................................................................................................................78 Chronology .................................................................................................................................78 Deceased ......................................................................................................................................81 Gestures ......................................................................................................................................81 Structure ��85 Site ......................................................................................................................................................88 Skeletal elements .............................................................................................................................88 Discussion..........................................................................................................................................89 Conclusion .........................................................................................................................................94 Acknowledgments ...........................................................................................................................94 Bibliography ��94 Digital trauma analysis and the mechanism of weapon related injuries �� 100 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................100

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