Human Skeleton with Cranial Traumatism, Discovered in a 17th – 19th Century Necropolis of Iași City (Romania)

Abstract

In this study, the authors present a human skeleton with cranial trauma discovered in a 17th–19th century necropolis of Iaşi City (Romania), during the 2022–2023 archaeological campaigns. Standard paleoanthropological methods, as well as stereomicroscopy and computed tomography were applied to analyse this skeleton. Results indicate that the skeleton belonged to an adult male of 30–35 years (i.e., young adult). The preservation status of the bones is satisfactory, the morphometrical data showing a general background of Europoid type, with the body height of 165.50 cm. At skull level, on the right parietal bone, a large perforation (traumatism) was identified. In terms of healing, bone regeneration had begun, indicating that the subject survived after the impact, but not for long. Dental calculus is present on mandibular teeth (i.e., all incisors, and canines), and maxillary ones (all incisors, and canines). Microdontia was also identified, at the upper right third molar (M3).

Keywords

• human skeleton
• cranial traumatism
• 17th–19th centuries
• iași (romania)