To kill or be killed: the coup de grâce for a warrior after multiple sword wounds

Abstract

Finding traumatic lesions on ancient skeletal remains offers a unique opportunity to investigate the circumstances surrounding the time of death. Here we present the unique find of a late 17th, early 18th century young male from Southern Italy with eight traumatic skull lesions. A detailed anthropological examination using X-ray and 3D CT scanning techniques was conducted in order to evaluate traumatic extent, direction and degree of severity of each skull injury. The nature, number and timing of repair of the traumata suggest that they were intentional blows inflicted in battle. Gross and radiographic evidence shows that the individual survived long after one of these traumata, most likely suffered in a previous battle. Shape, size and location, as well as different orientation and implied trajectory of the multiple wounds, suggest that they were produced by a heavy, sharp cutting weapon. The perimortem aspect of most of the traumata revealed them to be contemporary injuries, suffered in a final assault by a heavy sword during a face-to-face combat. The largest and deepest fracture penetrating the skull cavity possibly resulting in traumatic brain injury was here suggested as the fatal one, even if the victim may have survived for several days prior to death.