Journal List > Korean J Phys Anthropol > v.27(1) > 1039168

Kim, Oh, Kim, Ki, Hong, Kim, and Shin: Forensic Anthropological Study on Saw Marks Appearing on the Tibiae of a Joseon Skeleton

Abstract

Tomb with lime-soil mixture barrier(LSMB) was constructed by the people from upper class people of Joseon Dynasty. The coffin of LSMB was surrounded by hard concrete barriers, being successfully protected from outside invasions until the archaeological excavation begins. The human remains were extremely preserved well, providing important information on the health and illness of the people of Joseon dynasty.
Recent investigation into human skeletons from LSMB in Yong-in city was another forensic anthropological case that was very meaningful to our research. During the examination on the elderly Joseon female bones, we discovered unusual saw-marks on the shaft of both tibiae. We could not find any osteological evidences suggestive of healed bone process. Considering archaeological and anthropological findings altogether, the occurrence time of saw-marks was considered to be perimortem period. However, as for why such a saw mark was made on the tibiae, we did not get any information about it. We expect that this report facilitate other researcher to do explore the usefulness of forensic anthropology examination on the similar human skeleton cases identified in various archaeological ruins.

References

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Fig. 1.
Excavation site in Bojeong-dong, Yongin-si where Joseon tomb was discovered. (A) Red dot in map of Korean peninsula indicates the site.(B) Archaeological Site.
kjpa-27-29f1.tif
Fig. 2.
Skeletal remains in Joseon tomb #2 before collection. (A) Note the natural anatomical arrangement of bones. (B) Artificial deformity represented on the right tibia(indicated by red arrow) could be seen before gathering the bones in the field. (C) is the magnified image of (B). SK, skull; LSMB, lime soil mixture barrier; Vbr, vertebrae; Sc, sacrum; RFm, right femur; LFm, left femur; RTb, right tibia; LTb, left tibia.
kjpa-27-29f2.tif
Fig. 3.
Entire appearance of right and left tibia showing the saw marks on its lower one-third of the shaft.
kjpa-27-29f3.tif
Fig. 4.
Close-up picture of the saw mark on the shaft of tibia and drawing of concept of explaining the kerf sign. Note the kerf be considered as protruded teeth of wobbling saw blade just like the alphabet ‘M' on the cut mark of bone.
kjpa-27-29f4.tif
Fig. 5.
Hesitation-like mark on the surface of right tibia. Note the excoriation of cortical bone with more bright colors under the saw mark considering results of repeated sawing at first trial.
kjpa-27-29f5.tif
Table 1.
Osteometric data of skeletal remain in No. 2, Bojeong-dong, Yongin-si unit: mm
Bones Variables Value
  Maximum cranial length ND
  Maximum cranial breadth ND
  Bizygomatic diameter ND
  Basion-bregma height ND
  Cranial base length ND
  Basion-prosthion length ND
  Maxillo-alveolar breadth ND
  Maxillo-alveolar length ND
  Biauricular breadth ND
  Upper facial height ND
  Minimum frontal breadth ND
  Upper facial breadth ND
  Nasal height ND
  Nasal breadth ND
  Orbital breadth 38.5(Lt); 39.0(Rt)
  Orbital height 34.5(Lt); 33.5(Rt)
Skull Biorbital breadth ND
  Interorbital breadth ND
  Frontal chord ND
  Parietal chord ND
  Occipital chord ND
  Foramen magnum length ND
  Foramen magnum breadth ND
  Mastoid length 36.5(Lt); 35.5(Rt)
  Chin height ND
  Height of the mandibular body 31.0(Lt); 31.5(Rt)
  Breadth of the mandibular body 16.0(Lt); 17.0(Rt)
  Bigonial width ND
  Bicondylar breadth ND
  Minimum ramus breadth 36.0(Lt); 35.0(Rt)
  Maximum ramus breadth 47.0(Lt); 44.5(Rt)
  Maximum ramus height 64.5(Lt); 65.5(Rt)
  Mandibular length ND
  Mandibular angle ND
  Clavicle: maximum length 151.5(Lt); 149.5(Rt)
Clavicle Clavicle: ant-post. diameter at midshaft 15.5(Lt); 14(Rt)
  Clavicle: sup-inf. diameter at midshaft 13.5(Lt); 11(Rt)
Scapula Scapula: height ND
Scapula: breadth ND
  Humerus: maximum length 296.0(Lt); ND(Rt)
  Humerus: epicondylar breadth 66.5(Lt); 64.0(Rt)
Humerus Humerus: vertical diameter of Head 50.0(Lt); ND
  Humerus: maximum diameter at midshaft 22.5(Lt); 23.5(Rt)
  Humerus: minimum diameter at midshaft 19.0(Lt); 18.5(Rt)
  Radius: maximum length 241.0(Lt); 241.0(Rt)
Radius Radius: anterior-posterior diameter at midshaft 13.5(Lt); 12.5(Rt)
  Radius: medial-lateral diameter at midshaft 15.5(Lt); 15.5(Rt)
  Ulna: maximum length 261.5(Lt); 260.0(Rt)
  Ulna: anterior-posterior diameter 14.0(Lt); 14.5(Rt)
Ulna Ulna: medial-Lateral diameter 15.0(Lt); 16.0(Rt)
  Ulna: physiological length 233.0(Lt); 233.0(Rt)
  Ulna: minimum circumference 41.0(Lt); 34.0(Rt)
  Sacrum: anterior length ND
  Sacrum: anterior superior breadth ND
  Sacrum: max. transverse diameter of base ND
Pelvic bone Os coxae: height 210.5(Lt); 209.5(Rt)
  Os coxae: Iliac breadth 142.5(Lt); 146.5(Rt)
  Os coxae: pubis length 76.5(Lt); 78.0(Rt)
  Os coxae: ischium length 82.5(Lt); 81.5(Rt)
  Femur: maximum length 410.0(Lt); 409.0(Rt)
  Femur: bicondylar length 407.0(Lt); 404.0(Rt)
  Femur: epicondylar breadth 84.0(Lt); 84.0(Rt)
  Femur: maximum diameter of the femur head 48.0(Lt); 48.5(Rt)
Femur Femur: ant.-post. subtrochanteric diameter 27.5(Lt); 26.5(Rt)
  Femur: med.-lat. subtrochanteric diameter 32.0(Lt); 31.5(Rt)
  Femur: ant.-post. midshaft diameter 26.5(Lt); 26.5(Rt)
  Femur: medial-lateral midshaft diameter 27.0(Lt); 26.0(Rt)
  Femur: midshaft circumference 90.0(Lt); 82.0(Rt)
  Tibia: length 326.0(Lt); 324.0(Rt)
  Tibia: maximum proximal epiphyseal breadth 78.0(Lt); 77.0(Rt)
Tibia Tibia: maximum distal epiphyseal breadth 51.0(Lt); 56.0(Rt)
  Tibia: max. diameter at the nutrient foramen 32.5(Lt); 33.0(Rt)
  Tibia: med.-lat. diameter at nutrient foramen 25.0(Lt); 25.0(Rt)
Fibula Tibia: circumference at the nutrient foramen Fibula: maximum length 90.0(Lt); 95.0(Rt) ND(Lt); 322.0(Rt)
Fibula Fibula: maximum diameter at midshaft ND(Lt); 17.0(Rt)

ND: not determined

Table 2.
Sex estimation by the morphology of cranium and pelvic bone in No.2, Bojeong-dong, Yongin-si
Bones Elements Descriptions
  Greater sciatic notch Wideness
  Pre-auricular sulcus Presence
Pelvic bone Subpubic angle Wideness
  Ischiopubic ramus Sharpness
  Subpubic concavity Presence
  Ventral arc Presence
  Nuchal crest Low rugosity
  Matoid process Low volume
Cranium Supraorbital margin Sharpness
  Glabella Minimal prominence
  Mental eminence Minimal expression
Table 3.
Age estimation based on the morphology of hip bone in No.2, Bojeong-dong, Yongin-si
Criteria Elements Descriptions
  Transverse organization Irregular surface
  Porosity Macroporosity
Auricular surface(Lovejoy et al. 1985) Granularity Retroauricular activity Dense bone Moderate
  Apical activity Slight to moderate
  Estimated phase Phase VII(50∼59 yrs)
Table 4.
Metric description of saw mark at both tibia
Side Location Approaching plane Entry angle Depth Breadth Comments
Right 27cm from proximal Anterolateral 5� downward 1.9cm 0.2cm Kerf sign; Trial mark on the surface
Left 28cm from proximal Posteromedial 4� upward 0.8cm 0.2cm Kerf sigh; No any other sign
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