engleski

Skeletal evidence of violence directed against women in the eastern Adriatic coast and its hinterland during the Late Medieval Period

As part of the bioarchaeological project studying skeletal samples from the eastern Adriatic coast and its hinterland a survey on the possible presence of violence directed against women during the Late Medieval Period (13th-16th century AD) was conducted. Seven late medieval skeletal samples were included in this study (Dugopolje, Eraci, Lištani, Nin, Starigrad, Vrsi, and Zadar) with the total of 1200 individuals of which 340 were female skeletons. The following skeletal indicators of deliberate violence were included into the analysis: craniofacial trauma, ulnar parry fractures, perimortem trauma, and sharp force trauma. Indicators of violence were recorded in 13 individuals suggesting that about one in 30 women were subjected to some kind of intentional violence. This rate is underestimated and is probably much higher because skeletal injuries represent no more than 40% of all injuries acquired during assaults, i.e. most of the injuries are soft tissue trauma not visible on bones. The majority of the recorded traumas in this study are characteristic of domestic violence, but some indicate the use of sharp-edged weapons resulting in fatal consequences. Numerous written historical sources also testify that violence directed against women was a relatively common phenomenon in this region during the Late Medieval Period.

Eastern Adriatic coast; intentional violence; skeletal remains; women; Late Medieval Period

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