Brigantian/Valerian combat casualty.

You know...the two cracks makes it rather confusing...though it must have been a very heavy and sharp (or just extremely heavy) blade to cut through the skull like that. My guess would be either a stab with something (maybe when the guy was on the ground?) or an axe.

 

Assuming the cut on the front of the skull was the death blow, if it were in fact a slash by gladius or other sword, the man weilding it was left handed.

 

But then, I'm no expert lol.

You know...the two cracks makes it rather confusing...though it must have been a very heavy and sharp (or just extremely heavy) blade to cut through the skull like that. My guess would be either a stab with something (maybe when the guy was on the ground?) or an axe.

 

Assuming the cut on the front of the skull was the death blow, if it were in fact a slash by gladius or other sword, the man weilding it was left handed.

 

But then, I'm no expert lol.

 

Wow ! that was quick -I mention your name and you appear! I suggest that if the Gladius is the evolutionary heir of the kopesh , then a whack on the head with a "front loaded " blade would hurt at the very least. The "locals" probably would be bare-headed (normal warriors) .Im going to post a photo of the military entrenching tool the Romans used later on , looks quite a handy weapon to me. Victim could be leaning forward perhaps or fallen? It was the head on a pole bit that made me grimace.

you posted this just before I got home from school apparently...and I always check here when I get home.

 

Could have been a "waisted" or "front loaded" blade, though if it is in fact a slash a likely culprit also could be the falcatta (is that what those things are called? Greeks used them) of course the location of the skull could rule that out.

 

I don't know about the entrenching tool, though if it's anything like certain tools I'm familiar with (sort of like a pic axe but with one end flattened like a chisel...again I forget what they are called...adz maybe?) that would also be a likely culprit.

 

Me, I'm fond of a good old sharpened spade, but chances are a spade could only do that sort of damage if the victim was lieing on the ground when it happened.

 

Also notice that it isn't a clean cut...which seems to suggest something very heavy, but not necessarily very sharp. almost like it was hit unevenly, or cut with something that has a groove in it.

It was the head on a pole bit that made me grimace.

 

Me too.....but with excitement ! Those heads all lined up would have been some deterrent.

It was the head on a pole bit that made me grimace.

 

Me too.....but with excitement ! Those heads all lined up would have been some deterrent.

 

I blame the Auxilliae..

 

This made me reflect-lots of people use maces for close up and nasty combat, I dont recall any Roman soldier attested as carrying one-anyone know anything to the contrary?

The whack on the back seems to have healed. Could it be from two separate wounds? How is it known that it was a warrior? Could be one of the lads with a penchant for loud discussions and a bellicose neighbor.

The whack on the back seems to have healed. Could it be from two separate wounds? How is it known that it was a warrior? Could be one of the lads with a penchant for loud discussions and a bellicose neighbor.

I suspect the rear one is a burst cranial suture rather than an impact, if it had healed he must have been prone to migraines.

I think now, that this is possibly a spatha strike to the skull.