Skeletal Trauma Analysis of an Early Bronze Age Population at Wadi Faynan 100, Jordan

Abstract

The analysis of the frequency and pattern of trauma observed in a sample can help with interpreting aspects of life in past communities, including occupations, levels of interpersonal violence, and caregiving. Human skeletal remains from Wadi Faynan 100, an Early Bronze Age IB (3600-3000 B.C.E) site in Jordan with multiple charnel houses containing commingled remains were assessed for indicators of trauma. Examination of 465 elements (MNI=35), including cranial fragments, long bones, vertebrae, and innominate fragments from 13 charnel houses was conducted. All elements were analyzed visually for indicators of trauma and all trauma was recorded and described using recording forms. Trauma was most frequently observed in the skull (6/61 elements, 9.83%), with a low frequency of trauma (10/465 elements, 2.15%) observed in the sample overall. Multiple blunt-force traumatic injuries to the skull and two sharp-force injuries indicated a lower-than-expected level of interpersonal violence. A lower frequency of interpersonal violence is observed when the WF100 data is compared to the published data from Bab edh-Dhra, an Early Bronze Age IA site in Jordan. The presence of only two antemortem injuries in an advanced state of healing indicates some level of caregiving within the community due to the types of antemortem trauma observed; the injuries would have needed time to heal, affected day-to-day activities, and required some level of care from others. A low frequency of vertebral fractures (1/240, 0.42%) indicates a less physically demanding and hazardous lifestyle. Based on the overall low frequency of trauma, it can be said that individuals at WF100 did not often suffer traumatic injuries related to hard labour, accidents, or interpersonal or large-scale violence.