Possible Behavioral Changes Associated with Severe Cranial Trauma at Early Bronze Age Bab adh-Dhra’

Abstract

The osteological remains of individuals from the Early Bronze Age II–III site of Bab adh-Dhra’, located in modern-day Jordan, indicate comparatively high levels of cranial trauma when analyzed alongside other archaeological collections, and those afflicted may have required varying levels of care from the community. This research examines trauma to specific portions of the skull in two individuals, suggesting prospective consequences and possible effects of antemortem cranial depression fractures (CDFs), of interest to disability studies in bioarchaeology. Both individuals were analyzed via gross morphological examination, digital visualization using computed tomography scans and X-rays, and the Index of Care (a progression of four analytical steps to determine possible short-and long-term effects of trauma). Depending on the location of the CDF, a combination of clinical and neurological data was used to propose possible outcomes. Based on the severity of injuries, these individuals may have required short-term care related to mobility and immediate aid, as well as possible long-term care for impaired neurological/motor function. Despite potential challenges in navigating the social and physical landscapes at Bab adh-Dhra’, the survival of both individuals following their initial trauma suggests that head injury was both an understood and accepted reality.