The wooden artifacts from Schöningen's Spear Horizon and their place in human evolution.

Ethnographic records show that wooden tools played a pivotal role in the daily lives of hunter-gatherers including food procurement tools used in hunting (e.g., spears, throwing sticks) and gathering (e.g. digging sticks, bark peelers), as well as, domestic tools (e.g., handles, vessels). However, wood rarely survives in the archeological record, especially in Pleistocene contexts and knowledge of prehistoric hunter-gatherer lifeways is strongly biased by the survivorship of more resilient materials such as lithics and bones. Consequently, very few Paleolithic sites have produced wooden artifacts and among them, the site of Schöningen stands out due to its number and variety of wooden tools. The recovery of complete wooden spears and throwing sticks at this 300,000-y-old site (MIS 9) led to a paradigm shift in the hunter vs. scavenger debate. For the first time and almost 30 y after their discovery, this study introduces the complete wooden assemblage from Schöningen 13 II-4 known as the Spear Horizon. In total, 187 wooden artifacts could be identified from the Spear Horizon demonstrating a broad spectrum of wood-working techniques, including the splitting technique. A minimum of 20 hunting weapons is now recognized and two newly identified artifact types comprise 35 tools made on split woods, which were likely used in domestic activities. Schöningen 13 II-4 represents the largest Pleistocene wooden artifact assemblage worldwide and demonstrates the key role woodworking had in human evolution. Finally, our results considerably change the interpretation of the Pleistocene lakeshore site of Schöningen.

Crossbow Injuries: Predictors of Mortality.

INTRODUCTION: Crossbow injuries are rare but carry significant morbidity and mortality, and there is limited evidence in the medical literature to guide care. This paper reviews the case reports and case series of crossbow injuries and looks for trends regarding morbidity and mortality based on the type of arrow, anatomic location of injury, and intent of injury. METHODS: Multiple databases were searched for cases of crossbow injuries and data were abstracted into a spreadsheet. Statistics were done in SPSS. RESULTS: 358 manuscripts were returned in the search. After deduplication and removal of nonclinical articles, 101 manuscripts remained. Seventy-one articles describing 90 incidents met the inclusion criteria. The mean age was 36.5 years. There were 10 female and 79 male victims. Fatality was 36% for injuries by field tip arrows and 71% for broadhead arrows, p = .024. Assaults were fatal in 84% of cases, suicides in 29%, and accidental injuries in 17%, p < .001. Mortality was similar for wounds to the head and neck (41%), chest (42%), abdomen (33%), extremities (50%), and multiple regions, p = .618. CONCLUSIONS: Crossbows are potentially lethal weapons sold with fewer restrictions than firearms. Injuries caused by broadhead arrows are more likely to be fatal than injuries from field tip arrows. The anatomic location of injury does not correlate with fatality. More than half of crossbow injuries are due to attempted suicide, with a high case-fatality rate.

The completeness of routine registration of the counterpart in deliberate interpersonal violence in an urban emergency department.

Most studies of violence from the health care system lack reliable information about the counterpart, which is important for distinguishing between different types of violence. Since 2014, the emergency department at Odense University Hospital in Denmark has routinely registered information about the counterpart. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the completeness of registering information about the counterpart during routine registration of victims of interpersonal violence in the emergency department. We included 11,200 victims treated at the emergency department 2014-2021. Using the patient registration data, we estimated the proportion of missing information on the counterpart, stratified by age group and gender of the victim as well as type of incident and severity of injury. Information about the counterpart was registered in 91.5 % of all cases. In 43.1 % (CI: 42.2-44.0) of the cases, the counterpart was unknown to the victim, in 24.3 % (CI: 23.5-25.1) the counterpart was an acquaintance, in 10.5 % (CI: 10.0-11.1) the counterpart was a partner, and in 4.2 % (CI: 3.8-4.5) the counterpart was another family member. The proportion of cases with no information about the counterpart varied with gender, age group, time of violence, place of violence, weapon use, and severity of injury. Half of the victims injured with firearms (46.2 %, CI: 30.1-62.8) and one-fourth of the victims injured with knives (25.9 %, CI: 21.9-30.2) did not reveal information about the counterpart. The majority of the victims revealed information about the counterpart, making it possible to analyse different types of violence separately.

Penetration performance of protective materials from crossbow attack: a preliminary study.

Crossbow-related injuries resulting in serious and mortal consequences have increased in recent years, and although significant research exists for both injury and fatality on the human body, limited data exists on the lethality of the bolt and the failure modes of protective materials. This paper concerns itself with the experimental validation of four differing crossbow bolt geometries, their effects on material failure and potentially lethality. During this study, four different types of crossbow bolt geometries were tested against two protection mechanisms that differed in mechanical properties, geometry, mass and size. The results show that at 67 ms-1, ogive, field and combo tips do not provide lethal effect at 10-m range, whilst a broadhead tip will perforate both the para-aramid and a reinforced area of polycarbonate material consisting of two 3-mm plates at 63-66 ms-1. Although perforation was apparent with a more honed tip geometry, the chain mail layering within the para-aramid protection and friction caused by polycarbonate petalling on the arrow body reduced the velocity enough to demonstrate the materials under test are effective at withstanding crossbow attack. Subsequent calculation of the maximum velocity that arrows could achieve if fired from the crossbow within this study shows results close to the overmatch value of each material and therefore a requirement to advance the knowledge in this field to influence the development of more effective armour protection mechanisms.

Narabali: A rare case of human sacrifice.

With modern civilization and the rise in literacy, cases of human sacrifice are rarely encountered by forensic practitioners. Human sacrifice, also called 'Narabali' in India, involves an act of deliberately killing an individual due to ritualistic beliefs for the appeasement of the Gods, spirits, or ancestors. Human sacrifice and ritual murder are often considered synonymous, but ritual murder further involves offering the body part to the deity after killing. Diverse methods were historically adopted for human sacrifice across the globe, strongly influenced by their superstitious, religious, and cultural beliefs. Cases of human sacrifice mostly involve children. We report the rare case of human sacrifice involving an adult victim assaulted by a sharp weapon over the posterior aspect of the neck. The deceased succumbed due to the transection of the cervical spine and corresponding spinal cord. Corroboration of circumstances of death and profiles of the deceased and the perpetrator with autopsy findings were essential in the investigation. This case report discusses extreme superstitions and beliefs, resulting in homicide.

The 21-foot principle: Effects of age and sex on knife attack characteristics.

INTRODUCTION: Knives are commonly-used weapons in criminal activities and interpersonal assaults worldwide. Injury reports have identified the upper body as the most frequent location of knife injuries, and that stabbing attacks are more fatal than slashing attacks. The first two aims of the study explore whether the type of attack and attack location could be predicted from age and sex group. The following aims compared attack times between sex and age groups and evaluated the influence of subject characteristics on attack duration. The exploratory aim surveyed subjects on attack location during the scenario if the target was not wearing body armor. METHODS: A total of 74 subjects (male: n = 40; female: n = 34) participated. Subjects were video recorded during a 21-foot (ft) attack and participated in follow-up questions and completed a push-up test to determine physical strength. Attack time (AT), concealment location, attack type, and demographic information were correlated to age group and sex. RESULTS: Mean AT from 21 ft was 2.40 ± 0.47 s, with the fastest of 1.75 s. The most commonly observed concealment location, attack type, and attack location on the target included the right hip (n = 62), stab (n = 62), and the chest (n = 28), respectively. After controlling for push-up ability (p < 0.05), no differences were reported between any combination of sex and age group in AT from 21 ft. Push-up ability was the sole significant predictor of AT from 21 ft (p < 0.05). Twenty-eight subjects reported they purposely avoided the body armor vest during the 21 ft attack. CONCLUSION: Law enforcement officers are encouraged to train for quick defensive or offensive responses, such as hand-to-knife combat or rapid firearm skills that can be performed in under 1.75 s. Stronger people were predicted to complete the 21 ft attack faster.

[Features of coarse calico damage by hollow-point bullets of ammunitions to a 12-gauge fire smoothbore weapon (12×70) under the conditions of remote shooting distance]. / Osobennosti povrezhdeniya byazevoi tkani ekspansivnymi pulyami patronov k ognestrel'nomu gladkostvol'nomu oruzhiyu 12-go kalibra (12×70) v usloviyakh neblizkoi distantsii vystrela.

The article presents the experimental study results of damaged clothes imitators' (coarse calico) features in consequence of shot by ammunitions with hollow-point bullet from a 12-gauge fire smoothbore weapon (12×70). The generation mechanism of coarse calico damage during wound of underlying biological human body's imitator by bullet and the factors influencing on mentioned process have been clarified using high-speed video recording.

Impact of Implementation of a New Weapons Screening at an Urban Emergency Department.

BACKGROUND: Violence in the emergency department (ED) setting is well documented in medical literature. Weapons can be used to cause significant injury or mortality, although there is a paucity of literature on weapons and weapons screening in the ED. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of initiating a weapons screening process on the identification and removal of weapons. METHODS: Multiple aspects of a weapons screening program were evaluated at 2 and 6 months prior to and after a weapons screening protocol was initiated at an urban ED. In the Pre-Screen periods, only patients primarily seeking care for mental health were screened prior to entry. In the Post-Screen periods, all patients and visitors were screened with walk-through magnetometers or wand metal detectors, and additional screening checks were initiated. The number of individuals screened and numbers of weapons found were measured. Descriptive statistics comparing Pre- and Post-Screen periods were performed. RESULTS: Prior to the new screening process, 511 and 1701 patients primarily seeking care for mental health were screened, with 15 and 103 weapons confiscated at 2 and 6 months, respectively. After the screening process was initiated, 13,149 and 43,321 ED patients and visitors were screened, with 194 and 567 weapons confiscated at 2 and 6 months, respectively. Persons screened increased by 25-fold at both 2 and 6 months after implementing the screening process. Weapons confiscated increased approximately 13-fold and sixfold at the respective 2- and 6-month Pre- and Post-Screen periods, respectively. CONCLUSION: Implementation of weapons screening significantly increased the number of weapons identified and confiscated prior to entry in the ED by patients and visitors.

Terminal ballistic analysis of impact fractures reveals the use of spearthrower 31 ky ago at Maisières-Canal, Belgium.

The emergence of hunting technology in the deep past fundamentally shaped the subsistence strategies of early human populations. Hence knowing when different weapons were first introduced is important for understanding our evolutionary trajectory. The timing of the adoption of long-range weaponry remains heavily debated because preserved organic weapon components are extremely rare in the Paleolithic record and stone points are difficult to attribute reliably to weapon delivery methods without supporting organic evidence. Here, we use a refined use-wear approach to demonstrate that spearthrower was used for launching projectiles armed with tanged flint points at Maisières-Canal (Belgium) 31,000 years ago. The novelty of our approach lies in the combination of impact fracture data with terminal ballistic analysis of the mechanical stress suffered by a stone armature on impact. This stress is distinct for each weapon and visible archaeologically as fracture proportions on assemblage scale. Our reference dataset derives from a sequential experimental program that addressed individually each key parameter affecting fracture formation and successfully reproduced the archaeological fracture signal. The close match between the archaeological sample and the experimental spearthrower set extends the timeline of spearthrower use by over 10,000 years and represents the earliest reliable trace-based evidence for the utilization of long-distance weaponry in prehistoric hunting.

Atlatl use equalizes female and male projectile weapon velocity.

The atlatl is a handheld, rod-shaped device that employs leverage to launch a dart, and represents a major human technological innovation. One hypothesis for forager atlatl adoption over its presumed predecessor, the thrown javelin, is that a diverse array of people could achieve equal performance results, thereby facilitating inclusive participation of more people in hunting activities. We tested this hypothesis via a systematic assessment of 2160 weapon launch events by 108 people who used both technologies. Our results show that, unlike the javelin, the atlatl equalizes the velocity of female- and male-launched projectiles. This result indicates that a javelin to atlatl transition would have promoted a unification, rather than division, of labor. Moreover, our results suggest that female and male interments with atlatl weaponry should be interpreted similarly.

Assessment of lead exposure in indoor shooters in central Poland.

A steady increase in shooting practices is observed worldwide. Potential lead exposure at shooting ranges poses a risk to their employees and users, which is not widely reported outside of the USA, especially in Poland. Exposure to lead results from the use of bullets containing lead and the main route of exposure to this metal at shooting ranges is inhalation, i.e., during shooting or cleaning. The aim of this study was to assess lead exposure of employees and users in selected indoor shooting ranges in central Poland. Airborne lead concentrations at all locations in the shooting ranges were above Polish occupational exposure limit (OEL, 0.05 mg m-3). Elevated blood and urine lead levels, and decreased 4-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity (ALA-D) were found in subjects participating in shooting even for only a few (< 10) hours per week. Lead exposure at shooting ranges in central Poland, as indicated by elevated blood lead levels and decreased ALA-D activity, could represent an elevated risk for adverse health effects. Thus, information on the possible health consequences of lead exposure should be provided at these sites, and biomonitoring appears to be reasonable for regular workers and shooters.

Investigation of the variability in the tool marks produced by modified blank firing pistols on fired 7.65 mm projectiles.

Firearms identification has an important place in forensic ballistic investigations since the weapons are widely used in criminal offences. Firearm examiners resolve many case files, through the use of automatic systems or comparison microscopes. Advanced forensic technologies like BALISTIKA helps to record and analyze non standard ballistic evidence. In today's world, with the ease of access to materials and production technique information, pistols modified from blank firers are frequently encountered as crime tools. In this study, the characteristics of 7.65 mm fired cartridge cases obtained by controlled shots from blank firing modified pistols were examined, and their detection performances were compared by means of the Balistika system. Although distinctive differences are not expected after successive test shootings, balistically important changes were seen after the use of blank firing modified pistols and the 3D imaging system proved to be useful in observing such differences. The analyses showed that the modifications in weapons lead to variation in the ballistic characteristics and reduce the accuracy of the detection performance, which may result in flawed forensic decisions. It was also found that the deviations in ballistic impressions of modified blank firing pistols were greater than that of standard fabricated and hand-made pistols. This unique study contributed to the forensic sciences literature by focusing on the impact of modified weapons on ballistic characteristics.

Injuries caused by defensive bullet launchers and resource utilization during the French yellow vests protests: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: In 2018, the French "Yellow Vest" social protest movement spread with weekly demonstrations resulting in confrontations between protesters and law enforcement. Non-lethal weapons, such as defensive bullet launchers (DBL) were used, and significant injuries have been reported through media, leading to public controversy regarding their use. These injuries are not well-known to civilian emergency physicians. The aim of this study is to describe the injuries caused by DBL among Emergency Department (ED) patients during these demonstrations and to identify the characteristics that required specialized care and hospital admission. METHODS: A multicenter retrospective study was conducted in 7 EDs of academic hospitals in Paris, France. Adult ED patients who presented with DBL injuries during "yellow vest" strikes between November 2018 and May 2019 were included. The primary outcome was the rate of DBL patients requiring hospital admission. We also compared the characteristics of the injuries and the care provided between the admitted patients and other DBL patients. RESULTS: 152 patients were included. 17% were admitted to hospital, with 19% of them being transferred to intensive care units. 49% of all patients had head, face, eye or neck injuries including 4 cases of intracranial hemorrhage, 1 carotide dissection, 1 laryngeal edema, 1 pneumencephalus. 11% of all patients presented with multiple wounds, and 28% had fractures (77% of admitted patients vs 18%, p < 0.001). Surgery was required for 20% of all patients (62% of admitted patients vs 10%, p < 0.001). Maxillofacial surgery was performed on 38% of admitted patients, orthopedic surgery on 25%, and neurosurgery on 13%. No death were reported. CONCLUSION: The use of DBL during the "yellow vest" civil strikes was associated with a high rate of head, face, eye or neck injuries among injured ED patients. Hospital admission was associated with a higher rate of fractures, with most of them requiring maxillofacial, orthopedic and neurosurgeries.

Reassessing the terminal ballistic performance of trilobate and quadrilobate arrow points on Iron Age battlefields.

In the Eurasian Iron Age arrow points comprise a prominent class of artifact. Projectile experiments are useful for studying the ballistic performance of ancient arrow points and implications of arrow point innovations in warfare and shifting socio politics in Eurasia. However, when projectile experiments are not representative of past weapon use, they can lead to misinterpretations of the archaeological record. Notable problems arise when homogeneous target simulants used in controlled experiments are not representative of the targets past weapons were designed to encounter. This article explores the relationship between arrow point morphology and design choices in the Iron Age using different target media. Shooting arrow points into pottery clay leads to the conclusion that more blades reduced penetrating performance on ancient battlefields, but a very different result obtains by shooting the same points into thick tooling leather as a simulant for leather body armor. The results help explain patterns observed in the Eurasian archaeological record, where trilobate arrow points-initially developed by lightly armored horse archers on the Eurasian steppe-were increasingly adopted by a wide range of societies across Eurasia throughout the Iron Age.