234 • Charlotte Roberts 



Figure 4. Depressed skull fracture to right parietal bone of a Roman 

 individual from Hyde Street cemetery site, Winchester. Hampshire. 



Figure 5. Unhealed blade injury to left parietal 

 bone of an Anglo-Saxon individual from Pewsey, 

 Wiltshire. 



Figure 6. Healed trepanation associ- 

 ated with a blade injury to right side of 

 skull of a Roman individual from Ciren- 

 cester. 



would present an opportunity for bacteria to enter the cranial 

 cavity and cause endocranial infection, either abscess or 

 meningitis. 



Both long bone and skull fracture forms had a section for 

 commenting on possible treatment of the fracture. Many 

 recorded features of long bone fractures are related to treat- 

 ment, as has been seen, but only by assessing the totality of 

 these features could comments be made regarding treatment. 



Head injuries in the past were sometimes treated by trepana- 

 tion or surgical removal of a piece of bone from the skull. In 

 some cases there is evidence of a wound to the skull associ- 

 ated with a trepanation (Figure 6). Features of the trepanation 

 were also recorded — operative site. type, shape and size 

 (length, breadth, depth, internally and externally) of trepana- 

 tion, presence of healing and any indication of infection 

 present. 



Zagreb Paleopathology Symp. I9HH 



