Sanisera Field School, session 10, 2010: Bone Trauma from Roman Weaponry in Menorca, by Courtney Miller
1.
2.
3. Roman Sharp Trauma
Weaponry
Swords
~Iberian falcata, 4th/3rd
century BC. This weapon, a
scythe-shaped sword, was
unique to Iberia. By its inherent
weight distribution, it could
deliver blows as powerful as an
axe. The Iberians made some of
the best weapons of the ancient
world: they invented the
gladius, the standard sword
used by Roman infantry.
~Gladius, a short stabbing
sword, was used in the 1st to
late 2nd century in the cavalry.
~Spatha, a Roman cavalry
sword. Those were longer than
the gladius type and used to
fight from horseback. In the
later Empire, the spatha began
to replace the gladius even for
the infantry.
4. Roman sharp force trauma
Weaponry continued
Lances
~Approximately 1.8m (6ft) long
~It could be used when
charging or could be hurled at
the target
~These were the most feared
weapon of the rivals of the
Romans.
Contus
~Approximately 3.5m(12ft) long
~These were carried in two
hands without a shield
5. Sharp force trauma
This injury occurs by a force
with a narrow area of
impact on bone, which can
cause a compression or
shearing force
The trauma is differentiated
from postmortem breaks.
Although there was a move to
longer swords in the 2nd
century there is no evidence
of a change to the technical
use of the weapon. The
slashing technique was not
utilized until the late 4th or
5th century.
6. Blunt force trauma
This injury occurs by a force
with a wide area of impact
on the bone, which can
compress or bend the bone
causing stress and resulting
in a fracture or impression.
The Roman weapons were
not designed for blunt force
trauma however with the
use of horses in war as well
as the simple use of fists the
aspects of blunt force
trauma could be found in
Roman remains
7. Balearic Slinger Weaponry
Slings
~The slingers are
theorized to use a
simple leather strap and
a stone to hit a target
at a greater reach than
an archer.
The Glandes used by
the slingers gained
enough force to cause
projectile force.
8. Projectile trauma
This trauma occurs with
an intense force with a
narrow focus that
widens as it passes
through the bone.
This allows the direction
of fire to be determined
by the direction of the
beveling