Objective

To link an antemortem cranial injury on the left parietal bone with potential neurocognitive consequences.

Materials

The skeleton of a male individual from a Székely archaeological site in Transylvania was examined. The skeleton was radiocarbon dated to Cal AD 1450 and AD 1640 and presented a well-healed antemortem penetrating cranial injury on the left parietal bone.

Methods

Macroscopic and radiographic analyses were conducted and the cranium was also archived digitally with a Faro FreeStyle3D scanner. In addition, well-known literature from neuroscience was synthesized in order to better understand the likely neurological consequences of the injury.

Results

The literature suggests that tasks of attention and working memory, sensory processing, language processing, and vision are affected when the parietal lobe of the brain is injured.

Conclusions

Burial 195 did not likely return to a ‘normal’ life after he survived the cranial injury.

Significance

This study demonstrates that bioarcheological interpretations involving antemortem cranial injuries can be enhanced by collaboration with neuroscientists. Bioarcheological interpretations are improved when the consequences of soft tissue injuries are understood.

Limitations

This study was limited by a lack of historical documents relevant to the region, time period, and specific case study. In addition, interpretations are cautionary because brain functioning cannot be assessed in vivo in the absence of life.

Suggestions for further research

Bioarcheologists who study antemortem cranial injuries should continue to collaborate with neuroscientists.

中文翻译：

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颅顶创伤后幸存（但不繁荣）：来自特兰西瓦尼亚的案例研究

客观的

将左侧顶骨的死前颅骨损伤与潜在的神经认知后果联系起来。

材料

检查了来自特兰西瓦尼亚塞克利考古遗址的男性个体的骨骼。该骨骼的放射性碳年代为 Cal AD 1450 和 AD 1640，左侧顶骨上有一处愈合良好的生前穿透性颅骨损伤。

方法

进行了宏观和射线照相分析，并且还使用 Faro FreeStyle3D 扫描仪以数字方式存档了颅骨。此外，还合成了神经科学领域的知名文献，以便更好地了解损伤可能造成的神经学后果。

结果

文献表明，当大脑顶叶受伤时，注意力和工作记忆、感觉处理、语言处理和视觉等任务都会受到影响。

结论

Burial 195 在颅骨损伤中幸存下来后，不太可能恢复“正常”生活。

意义

这项研究表明，与神经科学家合作可以增强涉及死前颅骨损伤的生物考古学解释。当了解软组织损伤的后果时，生物考古学的解释就会得到改进。

限制

由于缺乏与该地区、时间段和具体案例研究相关的历史文献，这项研究受到了限制。此外，解释是谨慎的，因为在没有生命的情况下无法在体内评估大脑功能。

进一步研究的建议

研究死前颅骨损伤的生物考古学家应该继续与神经科学家合作。