Human Male Cranium with Sharp Force Trauma

BCH-818 $367.00

This adult male cranium exhibits perimortem trauma (there is no evidence of healing, an indication that trauma was sustained just before death) probably caused by a sharp rectangular object resulting in several puncture wounds. The areas with the largest destruction are the right parietal and occipital. Rectangular shaped punctures can be seen 1cm anterior to bregma on the frontal bone and on the left parietal posterior to the coronal suture. Radiating fractures can be seen extending in a posterior direction from these injuries. A significant puncture on the frontal bone anterior to the coronal suture exhibits a hinge fracture, a common fracture found in sharp force trauma with part of the fresh bone peeling away. Due to the delicate nature of the original specimen, this cranium was 3-D scanned, printed and hand finished. A calvarium cut was added to allow both an external and internal view of the wounds and how they affected both the inner and outer table of the cranium.

This cranium is an excellent example of sharp force trauma in the archaeological context and would be a valuable addition to anthropology programs focused on paleopathology, archaeology or forensics. The original specimen—collected in Cinco Cerros, Peru circa 1913-1915 by Smithsonian Anthropologist Aleš Hrdlička for the Panama-California Exposition—from which our cast is made, is from the Hrdlicka Paleopathology Collection housed at the San Diego Museum of Man.

2-part skull (Top portion of cranium is removable and held in place by small magnets.)

Custom display stand available below.

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