Anthropology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Three cases of feet and hand amputation from Medieval Estremoz, Portugal

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-2017

Abstract

Highlights

  • The first portuguese case, concerning lim amputatios recovered from na archaeological site.

  • An uncommon skeletal record.

  • Probable confirmation of the existence of corporal punishment in the Middle Ages.

Abstract

Peri-mortem limb amputations are rarely reported in the paleopathological literature. The cases reported here concern severing of both hands and feet observed in three adult male skeletons, exhumed from the medieval Portuguese necropolis of Rossio do Marquês de Pombal, Estremoz, Portugal. The fact that they were found in the same site, in graves placed side by side, that all are young males, and that the three skeletons show similar perimortem injuries, make this a unique case meriting detailed analysis. Considering the lesions’ location and pattern, as well as historical data, we hypothesize that this is a case of amputation as a consequence of judicial punishment. Estremoz was an important city in sustaining the Royal power at a regional scale during the medieval period.

Comments

Original published version available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpp.2017.05.007

Publication Title

International Journal of Paleopathology

DOI

10.1016/j.ijpp.2017.05.007

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