Healed limb amputations in human osteoarchaeology and their causes
A case study from Ipswich, UK
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12371265 |
|---|---|
| Authors | May (0000-0002-0352-5625, English Heritage, corresponding author), S A Mays |
| Year | 1996 |
| Volume | 6 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 101-113 |
| Publication date | 1996-01-01 |
| 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/(sici)1099-1212(199601)6:1<101::aid-oa232>3.3.co;2-p |
| OpenAlex | W4256597089 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 5 |
An adult male skeleton of Medieval date from Ipswich, UK, shows amputation of the right hand. The morphology of the bones suggests a quiescent stump, in which healing had been completed some time before death. Osteometric, morphological and radiographic data show that the mutilated limb continued to function but was used to a lesser degree than the intact side. A review of some of the literature on the osteoarchaeological evidence for healed limb amputations showed that interpretations generally fall into three broad categories: surgical intervention, judicial punishments and blade injuries. In the Ipswich case the skeletal evidence offered few clues as to the reasons for the mutilation, but historical evidence suggested a possible personal identification for the burial and that the cause of the amputation was a blade injury sustained as a result of a violent assault
Amputation · Form and function · General surgery · Intervention (counseling · Lower limb · dental development and anomalies · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Genital Health and Disease · Medicine · Paleopathology and ancient diseases · Psychology · Surgery
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |