Accidental Injury

When a bioarchaeologist examines remains there is the question of how the subject died. If the subject died by another individual’s hands we must determine what type of death did the subject suffer from before expiring. First their need to be an identification of whether the injury inflicted was intention (interpersonal) or accidental. Accidental injury is when the events that cause the fatal injury were unexpected or unplanned (575, Walker). While intentional injury, is belive to be purposefully malevolence act, however this is not as clear-cut as one would imagine and many factors have be taken into consideration when labeling the death injury as intentional. For example there are social cultures customs that we could interpret incorrectly, although in that culture it is completely appropriate, this is known as cultural contingency (575,Walker). How can we identify different types of injuries from skeletal remains? Traumatic injury resulting from intentional or accidental injury is one of the most common conditions seen on a human skeletal (576, Walker). Spondylosis is a type of stress fracture that occurs to the hypertension of the lower back, which on the remains bioarchaeologist would …show more content…
In Larsen text,, there is a significant case study with Saunaktuk site where the bioarchaeologist found evidence of violent death. Individuals were found with cut marks not only on the cranium and vertebrae joint but also around the neck, which possible could have been an attempt to decapitate the individual, and cuts on along the facial area that could have attempted to possible facial disfigurement (158, Larsen). There was no doubt that this was a form of intentional injury and possibly that the subjects might have been the victims of cannibalism. Cannibalism itself is considered an injury from ritual but regardless in this case there was indication to