Human Male Cranium with Mid-facial Blunt Force Trauma

BCH-816 $330.00

This adult male exhibits both extensive antemortem trauma (trauma sustained before death with evidence of healing) and perimortem trauma (trauma sustained just before death with no evidence of healing) likely caused by a blunt object. There are healed comminuted fractures of the face involving both nasals, maxillae, and the left zygomatic bone. Remarkably, the individual survived this injury, evidenced by the extensive healing in the mid-facial region. Fresh depressed fractures are present in the back of the skull at lambda (where the lambdoidal and sagittal sutures meet) and on the right and left parietals. There are traces of porotic hyperostosis and cribra orbitalia, both common lesions found in archaeological specimens thought to be caused by iron-deficiency anemia or hemolytic anemia. This cranium is an excellent example of blunt force trauma in the archaeological context and would be a valuable addition to anthropology programs focused on paleopathology, archaeology or forensics.

The Hrdlicka Paleopathology Collection is housed at the San Diego Museum of Man and consists of approximately 1000 human bone specimens exhibiting disease, trauma, and cranial surgery. Smithsonian anthropologist Ales Hrdlicka collected these specimens in Peru in 1913 for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. Bone Clones, Inc. is grateful to the San Diego Museum of Man for exclusive casting rights to selected specimens.

Custom display stand available below.