An Antemortem Malaligned Femoral Fracture in a Pre‐Colonial Southern African Hunter‐Gatherer/Herder
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12371053 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Siwaphiwe Mfengu (0009-0002-5739-6846, Division of Clinical Anatomy and Biological Anthropology, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences University of Cape Town Cape Town South Africa, corresponding author), Calvin Gerald Mole (0000-0001-8483-8190, Division of Clinical Anatomy and Biological Anthropology, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences University of Cape Town Cape Town South Africa), V E Gibbons (0000-0001-7875-3297, Division of Clinical Anatomy and Biological Anthropology, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences University of Cape Town Cape Town South Africa) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 35 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 6-12 |
| Publication date | 2025-05-10 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Osteoarchaeology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1047-482X • E-ISSN: 1099-1212 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1002/oa.3372 |
| OpenAlex | W4410259594 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 43 |
Physical trauma has significant ramifications on a person's way of life depending on social structure and access to support. Understanding trauma for past people is valuable for assessing the impact of trauma on mobility, functionality, and social integration of individuals. The Holocene Later Stone Age (LSA) is a significant period in southern Africa and was dominated by hunter‐gatherers and herders. A case of antemortem femoral trauma in a precolonial hunter‐gather/herder from the Nama‐Karoo in South Africa was assessed. Using macroscopic examination, photographic documentation, and radiographic analysis, an osteobiography was constructed showing the person was male, aged 35–49 years‐at‐death. The individual has a malaligned, healed oblique fracture to the proximal third of the femoral diaphysis. The malalignment resulted in shortening and medial rotation (~90°) of the distal femur. Due to the risk of complications and impairment, this individual would have required care, particularly in the early stages of healing post injury. The degree of healing indicates a level of care provision and assistance to ensure their survival and ability to maintain a role within the community. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of life ways for southern African hunter‐gatherers and herders (sAHGH) highlighting importance of care and social support in mitigating the effects of trauma during the LSA. Further research is recommended to explore healthcare systems and expand the understanding of trauma for sAHGH
Archaeology · Hunter-gatherer · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · History · Medicine
UCT Human Skeletal Repository
Violence during the Later Stone Age of Southern Africa
Traumatic cubitus valgus consequent of distal humeral fracture
Bilateral hip dysplasia in a South African male
Considering care
An exploration of interpersonal violence among Holocene foragers of Southern Africa
Broken bones
Skeletal age determination based on the os pubis
Presidential Address
Long bone robusticity and subsistence behaviour among Later Stone Age foragers of the forest and fynbos biomes of South Africa
Intersectionality and trauma analysis in bioarchaeology
Sexing skulls using discriminant function analysis of visually assessed traits
Chronological metamorphosis of the auricular surface of the ilium
Bioarchaeological contributions to the study of violence
Diet and adult age‐at‐death among mobile foragers
A newly developed visual method of sexing the os pubis
Cut Mark Cluster Geometry and Equifinality in Replicated Early Stone Age Butchery
Fractures of the lower limbs and their secondary skeletal adaptations
A Palaeopathological Assessment of the Late 19th and Early 20th Century Khoesan
Assessment and improvement of sex estimation standards for application in Holocene San and Khoekhoe populations
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |