Anthropologists can learn additional information about individuals and their lives by looking at trauma, diseases or cultural bone modifications. Although these are rare and can vary widely, it is important to be able to recognize them.

Projectile Trauma

Another type of trauma is projectile trauma. Projectile trauma usually refers to gunshot wounds, but also includes any other projected items such as spears or arrows. The entrance and exit points of a wound can often be identified by evaluating patterns of bone breakage. Entrances generally have fragments of bone pushing to the interior. The exterior hole will be smaller and more defined with the interior being larger and the fragments. By the time the projectile exits (if it does at all) the projectile will have lost velocity and generally makes a larger, less defined exit. Note that there are two types of associated fractures; radiating and concentric. When the projectile impacts the bone, it spurs fractures radiating out from the impact. As the fracture progresses, larger concentric features connect the radiating spikes.

Part C

Answer the questions found in the lab about projectile trauma.