Bioarchaeological evidence of violent deaths from medieval Prague

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the relationship between patterns of violence-related trauma and social, chronological, and demographic variables using skeletal remains from historical Prague.Materials300 human skulls of adults from nine medieval cemeteries divided into three periods: Early Middle Ages (800–1200), High Middle Ages (1200–1500), and Modern Period (1500–1800).MethodsAll bones were examined macroscopically for trauma (timing, location, type of trauma). We adapted the criteria outlined in the Istanbul Protocol for the identification of violence-related trauma. We used binary logistic regression to assess the trauma frequency.ResultsThe analysis revealed no statistically significant relationship between patterns of violence-related trauma and the examined parameters. This lack of variation across socio-demographic predictors may reflect methodological limitations or cultural preference in choosing how to bury the deceased, but it could also suggest that violence impacted individuals across all groups indiscriminately.ConclusionsThe frequency of violent trauma on human bones in historical Prague is similar to other parts of medieval Europe. The absence of a difference in the prevalence of violence-related trauma between subgroups may indicate cultural and methodological bias.SignificanceThis research provides new insights into the bioarchaeology of violence in historical Prague and illuminates a hitherto understudied chapter of history.LimitationsThe study is limited to the territory of the capital and focuses exclusively on cranial remains.Suggestions for further researchIn the future, comparative research could also be conducted comparing Prague burial sites with those found in significant urban centres in the Czech lands.