A new human-induced trauma in a skull in the Jomon period and reconsideration of three existing materials

Abstract

Hashima Shell Mound is an Early Jomon Period site located in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. One of the skulls excavated from this site in 1920 has an oval-shaped hole in its left frontal bone, which was previously interpreted to have been produced accidentally. We analyzed this hole macroscopically based on a forensic anthropological method and using CT images. It shows typical characteristics of human-induced trauma, which should be classified morphologically as a “stab wound.” We also examined three crania in the collection of The University Museum, The University of Tokyo, which were previously reported to have human-induced traumas to classify them into the three categories used in forensic anthropology: blunt force trauma, stab wound, and sharp force trauma. Some holes present in two of the crania were morphologically classified as stab wounds. These may have been produced not only by spears and arrows, as has been discussed before, but also by antlers or bone tools as hand weapons. By examining the nature of these injuries, we discuss their possible causative backgrounds including intentional violence and ritualistic destruction of dead bodies.