Cranial trauma as evidence of violence in a native Alaskan skeletal sample from Nunivak Island

Scott S. Legge, Macalester College

Abstract

Cranial trauma is investigated in a skeletal collection from Nunivak Island, Alaska. Eleven cases of cranial trauma were observed. These included 6 adult males and 5 adult females, representing a frequency of 11.5% among the males and 6.9% for females in the sample. Statistical analysis indicates no significant difference in the occurrence of trauma in this sample between males and females. The wound types include both blunt force trauma and blade weapon inflicted. Seven of the wounds show signs of healing or have healed completely, whereas the other 4 show no indication of healing and were most likely directly related to the cause of death. Finally, a skull of a middle adult (35- 49 years) male exhibits a bony “bar” within the right eye orbit extending from the superior margin of the orbit to the lacrimal bone. This is possibly the result of a healed trauma and may be an ossification of the orbicularis oculi. This research was funded in part by the Smithsonian Institution Office of Repatriation. A special thanks must also be made to the people of Nunivak Island for allowing this research to be conducted at the University of Alaska. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, Volume 117, Supplement 34: 100 (Abstract).