Abstract
Two skeletal samples from Middle and South Moravia (Czech Republic) dating from the Early Bronze Age (1900-1500 BC) and differing in mortuary treatment were examined for evidence of skeletal trauma. One of these samples are burials in settlement pits, the second are individuals buried graves.
The former case may be explained as evidence of some kind of violence or war conflict. In this paper, a hypothesis of whether these individuals are more affected by traumas or signs of violence is tested.
The identified types of trauma were both cranial and postcranial (long bones). Both groups of buried individuals exhibit healed fractures.
The frequency of fractures is 12% in individuals buried in settlement pits, and 14% in those buried in regular graves; the difference is not significant (p > 0.05). Differences between sex and age were not statistically significant either (p > 0.05).
The results show that funeral practice alone does not identify victims of violence or people who lived in a different way of life, such that would be manifested by higher occurrence of skeletal trauma. The frequency of fractures does not depend on sex or age either.
All healed fractures are possible results of accidents connected with daily activities. The exception are skull injuries which were probably caused by interpersonal violence.