Bioarchaeological evidence of violent deaths from medieval Prague

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F49777513%3A23330%2F25%3A43975736" target="_blank" >RIV/49777513:23330/25:43975736 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1879981725000221" target="_blank" >https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1879981725000221</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpp.2025.05.001" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.ijpp.2025.05.001</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Bioarchaeological evidence of violent deaths from medieval Prague

Original language description

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.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

60102 - Archaeology

Project

—

Continuities

S - Specificky vyzkum na vysokych skolach

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

International Journal of Paleopathology

ISSN

1879-9817

e-ISSN

1879-9825

Volume of the periodical

50

Issue of the periodical within the volume

SEP 2025

Country of publishing house

GB - UNITED KINGDOM

Number of pages

11

Pages from-to

1-11

UT code for WoS article

001504605100001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105006705764