Cranial injuries to Later Stone Age children from the Modder River mouth, Western Cape Province, South Africa
Journal Article
2004
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South African Archaeological Bulletin
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The South African Archaeological Society
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University of Cape Town
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Abstract
The location of a burial of three juvenile skeletons, discovered in 1980 and dated to about 2600 BP, was confirmed through guidance from the discoverers. The site was near the mouth of the Modder River, Malmesbury District, Western Cape, South Africa. Skeletal ages at death are approximately 1-1.5, 6-7 and 12-13 years, based on dental and skeletal development. All three crania show indications of trauma that occurred while the bone was fresh and before the skeletons were positioned for burial. The size and shape of the perforations and indentations are consistent with use of the same type of object to inflict all injuries. This object had an approximately circular diameter of no more than 15 mm and was tapered to a point at one end, like a digging stick. This instance is discussed in the context of other, previously reported, cases of probable violent death in the prehistoric Western Cape.
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Reference:
Pfeiffer, S., & van der Merwe, N. J. (2004). Cranial injuries to Later Stone Age children from the Modder River Mouth, Western Cape Province, South Africa. The South African Archaeological Bulletin, 59-65.