Krakowka Kathryn
School of Archaeology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QY, United Kingdom.
Am J Phys Anthropol. 2017 Nov;164(3):488-504. doi: 10.1002/ajpa.23288. Epub 2017 Aug 9.
This study aims to identify the patterns and prevalence of violence-related skull trauma (including the cranium and mandible) among a large sample of skeletons from medieval London (1050-1550 AD).
In total, data from 399 skulls, representing six different sites from across medieval London, were analyzed for evidence of trauma and assessed for the likelihood that it was caused by violence. The sites include the three parish cemeteries of St Nicholas Shambles (GPO75), St Lawrence Jewry (GYE92), and St Benet Sherehog (ONE94); the two monastic houses of London Blackfriars (PIC87) and St Mary Graces (MIN86); and the early inmate cemetery from the medieval hospital of St Mary Spital (NRT85).
The overall findings suggest that violence affected all aspects of medieval London society, but how that violence was characterized largely depended on sex and burial location. Specifically, males from the lay cemeteries appear to have been the demographic most affected by violence-related skull injuries, particularly blunt force trauma to the cranial vault.
Using both archaeological and historical evidence, the results suggest that violence in medieval London may have been more prevalent than in other parts of medieval England, particularly rural environments, but similar to other parts of medieval Europe. However, more studies focusing on medieval trauma, and violence specifically, need to be carried out to further strengthen these results. In particular, males from the lay cemeteries were disproportionately affected by violence-related trauma, especially blunt force trauma. It perhaps indicates a means of informal conflict resolution as those of lower status did not always have the newly established medieval legal system available to them.
本研究旨在确定公元1050 - 1550年中世纪伦敦大量骨骼样本中与暴力相关的颅骨创伤（包括头盖骨和下颌骨）的模式和患病率。
总共分析了来自中世纪伦敦六个不同地点的399个头骨数据，以寻找创伤证据，并评估其由暴力导致的可能性。这些地点包括圣尼古拉斯肉铺（GPO75）、圣劳伦斯犹太教堂（GYE92）和圣贝内特谢尔霍格（ONE94）的三个教区墓地；伦敦黑衣修士会（PIC87）和圣玛丽格雷斯（MIN86）的两个修道院；以及中世纪圣玛丽医院早期囚犯墓地（NRT85）。
总体研究结果表明，暴力影响了中世纪伦敦社会的各个方面，但这种暴力的特征很大程度上取决于性别和埋葬地点。具体而言，来自普通墓地的男性似乎是受暴力相关颅骨损伤影响最大的人群，尤其是头盖骨遭受钝器创伤。
结合考古学和历史证据，结果表明中世纪伦敦的暴力可能比中世纪英格兰的其他地区，特别是农村地区更为普遍，但与中世纪欧洲的其他地区相似。然而，需要开展更多关注中世纪创伤，特别是暴力方面的研究，以进一步强化这些结果。特别是，来自普通墓地的男性受暴力相关创伤的影响尤为严重，尤其是钝器创伤。这可能表明了一种非正式冲突解决方式，因为地位较低的人并不总是能够利用新建立的中世纪法律体系。
