The Relationship Between Skull Trauma and Demographics in Contemporary New Mexicans (original) (raw)

During forensic skeletal analyses, the skull is used to score a variety of characteristics related to a biological profile, including age, sex, and evidence of trauma. Contemporary skeletal collections, like the New Mexico Decedent Image Database (NMDID), contain documented demographics and medical histories, including trauma, from hundreds of individuals [1]. These resources can provide another source of potential evidence for identification. Skeletal remains with evidence of trauma have been known to assist with uncovering the identities of targeted people(s), the specific trauma they suffered, and the lasting biological and cultural impacts [2,3]. Trauma is often associated with violence (structural or interpersonal) and can be determined by assessing the injury mechanisms and other factors surrounding trauma to the skeleton (i.e., accidents or interpersonal violence). The objective of this study was to assess skull trauma from a documented skeletal database and examine how demographics can provide essential information on those who experience these types of injuries. Data from 40 individuals associated with fatal skull trauma were collected from the NMDID and categorized by whether the trauma was accidental or interpersonal violence. The sample consisted of 10 females and 30 males between the ages of 15-85 years old, which were further divided into individuals older and younger than 40 years old (29 and 11 individuals, respectively). Statistical analyses were performed through Fisher’s Exact tests using RStudio Statistical Analysis software (v.4.1.2) to examine whether traumatic events were related to accidents or violence, and to compare sex and age demographics. The results of these analyses showed significant differences (p < 0.001) with higher rates of accidental skull trauma compared to violent skull trauma, but there was no observed significance with age or sex. However, there was a higher number of accidental incidents among individuals over 40 years old and the data showed a disproportionately high number of males with head injuries compared to females. While results presented do not indicate significantly higher rates of physical violence, the higher number of accidents among individuals over 40 years old, and an increased number of accidents and violent events among males indicates that there may be evidence of structural violence. Interpretations of structural violence could include a lack of proper care for older individuals who are at an increased fall risk, and the possibility of gender-based violence among males. Further analysis into other societal factors and injury mechanisms could allow for a better understanding of how different forms of trauma relate to evidence of violence, and its overall impact on individuals within a population. References: 1. Edgar, H., Daneshvari Berry, S., Moes, E., Adolphi, N., Bridges, P., & Nolte, K. 2020. New Mexico decedent image database. Office of the Medical Investigator, University of New Mexico: Albuquerque, NM, USA. 2. Pérez, V. R. 2016. The poetics of violence in bioarchaeology: Integrating social theory with trauma analysis. New Directions in Biocultural Anthropology, Hoboken (Nueva Jersey), Wiley & Sons, 453-469. 3. Passalacqua, N. V., & Rainwater, C. W. (Eds.). 2015. Skeletal trauma analysis: case studies in context. John Wiley & Sons.