engleski

Crime in Prehistory. Forensic analysis of Copper Age mass grave from Croatia

During archaeological rescue excavations carried out in 2007 at Potočani in continental Croatia, a pit containing numerous human skeletal remains was discovered. The remains were mostly articulated but also comingled and showed no clear pattern of organization. There were no associated artefacts, just a few pottery fragments probably belonging to the Copper Age Lasinja Culture (c. 4300 to 3950 BCE). Three human bone samples from different layers were dated to around 4100 cal BCE by radiocarbon analysis. The radiocarbon dates, combined with other aspects of archaeological context, indicate that the deposition was a single episode rather than a long-term accumulation. Conventional bioarchaeological analysis suggests the presence of at least 41 individuals of all ages and both sexes with many crania exhibiting various perimortem trauma. We used forensic approach in order to reconstruct the patterning and morphology of perimortem cranial injuries. These include blunt force trauma as well as cuts and penetrating injuries indicating the use of different weapons/tools. All mentioned aspects suggest a single violent encounter (massacre).

Croatia, Chalcolithic, violence

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