Frequency and Types of Traumas in Khevsureti according to the Fossil Material of the High and Late Middle Ages

Abstract

The traditions and the reflection of the traumatism associated with them, described in the ethnological literature, are clearly visible on the studied bone material of the High and Late Middle Ages, obtained in Khevsureti. Among Khevsurs in the late Middle Ages, there are mainly intravital injuries, after which a person lived for decades, as evidenced by multiple injuries inflicted on some skulls at different times. When determining the probable objects that caused these traumas, blunt-solid and sharp-cutting objects were identified. In 8 cases, injuries were caused by both types of objects, in 4 cases, only by blunt objects, and in the remaining 7 cases, only by sharp-cutting ones. The traumas are mainly localized in the forehead, then on the crown, temple, occiput and face. They are observed both on the right and on the left sides, however, most of them are located on the left, suggesting that the person facing the enemy was wounded by the opponent’s right hand. In 12 cases, combined injuries are observed both on the right and on the left sides, in one case, only on the right, and in the remaining 6 cases, only on the left. A detailed study of the skulls revealed traces of medical manipulations, particularly, trepanation in 4 cases. They were located in the areas of the temple, crown and occiput. Judging by the types and sizes of the skull injuries, the cause of death in six cases should have been precisely a cranial trauma. Of the 22 skulls dating back to the High Middle Ages, traces of trauma were found on 6 skulls. Three skulls showed injuries inflicted during life, and another 3 had traumas inflicted by blunt-solid objects shortly before death, which should have been the cause of death. In one case, the object had to be both blunt-solid and sharp, and in the remaining 5 cases only blunt-solid. Here, too, the injuries are localized mainly in the forehead, and then in the temples and face. In contrast to the skulls dating from the late Middle Ages, most of the injuries in this series occur on the right side. In all eras, human life is the most valuable, and, despite the severe injuries found on the skulls, Khevsuretian traditional healers spared no effort and knowledge to save people who were on the verge of death. Traces of bravery and courage of Khevsurs are clearly seen on the bone anthropological material. Cranial traumas were detected in 27.2 % and 59.4 % of cases on the skulls of the High and Late Middle Ages, respectively. The fencing tradition, widespread in Khevsureti, reduced the average age of death by 2-1.5 years. The average age of death of the population of the Late Middle Ages is lower than that of the population of the High Middle Ages. The individual average age of those who died without injuries is the highest in the High Middle Ages, which is a reality and can be clearly seen from both the minimum and maximum ages. According to materials obtained in Georgia, the average age of death in the High and Late Middle Ages is significantly lower than that of the Khevsurs of the corresponding periods, which is explained by the customs of the local group and its adaptation to the environment. It is also important that traces of injuries were found only on the skulls of men, which indicates that Khevsurs did not show aggression towards women and children and did not use violence against them.