Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Sciences

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A Sharp Force Trauma Related Possible Homicide in Ancient Anatolia: Analytical Research
Antik Anadolu'da Keskin Alet Yaralanması Sonucu Oluşan Muhtemel Bir Cinayet: Analitik Araştırma
Ahmet İhsan AYTEKa, Alper Yener YAVUZa, Esra Hilal KAYAb
aDepartment of Anthropology, Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Faculty of Arts and Science, Burdur, Türkiye
bPrivate Anthropologist, Muğla, Türkiye
Turkiye Klinikleri J Foren Sci Leg Med. 2022;19(2):119-23
doi: 10.5336/forensic.2021-87445
Article Language: EN
Full Text
ABSTRACT
 Objective: Trauma analysis is one of intriguing parts of osteoarchaeological studies. It reveals important information about the lifestyle of the ancient humans and in some cases the reason of the deaths. During the 2019 excavation season, a well-preserved and almost intact human skeleton was found in Northern Colonnaded Street of the Stratonikeia ancient city. This study presents the characteristics of the wound on this individual and discusses the possible reason and the way of the death. Material and Methods: The material consists of a nearly complete skeleton dating to 1086-1219 calCE by radiocarbon dating. The skeleton -whose age and sex were determined by using cranium, mandible, os coxae, clavicle and femur- belongs to a 20-25 years old male. The whole skeleton was examined for the presence of trauma and other pathological conditions which described in literature. Results: Located on occipital bone, there is a large lesion (height: 43.53 mm, width: 61.42 mm) which shows an evident of sharp force trauma without having any signs of healing. The evidence indicates a sudden death which was caused by a large bladed instrument. Conclusion: Given the size and characteristics of the trauma, it is likely that the incident is a result of intra-group violence rather than inter-group violence and thus interpreted as a homicide.

Keywords: Stratonikeia; sharp force trauma; paleopathology; ancient homicide
ÖZET
 Amaç: Travma analizleri, osteoarkeolojik çalışmaların en ilgi çekici yanlarından birisidir. Bu çalışmalar, antik dönem insanların yaşayışlar ve bazı durumlarda ölüm sebepleri hakkında bilgileri açığa çıkarır. Stratonikeia Antik Kenti'nde yer alan Kuzey Sütunlu Cadde'de 2019 yılında gerçekleştirilen kazılarda, neredeyse bütün hâlinde çok iyi korunmuş bir insan iskeleti bulundu. Bu çalışma; yaranın özelliklerini, ölümün nedenini ve nasıl meydana geldiğini ortaya koymaktadır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Radyokarbon tarihleme yöntemi ile 1086-1219 calCE arasına tarihlendirilen iskelet 20-25 yaşlarında erkek bir bireye aittir. Bireyin yaş ve cinsiyeti; kafatası, mandibular, koksigs, klavikula ve femur üzerinden belirlenmiştir. Bireyin bütün iskeleti üzerinde, literatürde tanımlanmış patolojik durumların varlığına yönelik detaylı bir inceleme gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bulgular: Oksipital kemik üzerinde, iyileşme izi bulunmayan ve kesici bir alet ile yapılmış olan büyük bir lezyon (yükseklik: 43,53 mm, genişlik: 61,42 mm) tespit edildi. Kanıtlar, büyük bir kesici alet ile açılan bu yaranın ani bir ölüme yol açtığını göstermekte. Sonuç: Travmanın ebadı ve özellikleri, bu yaranın grup içi bir şiddet sonucu ortaya çıktığını ve bu yüzden cinayet olarak sınıflandırılması gerektiği ihtimalini ön plana getirmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler: Stratonikeia; kesici alet travması; paleopatoloji; antik cinayet
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