Table 1.
Individual data obtained from the age, sex and trauma analysis.
Fig 1.
Map of the site and its surroundings (LDA Halle/Saale).
Fig 2.
(A) Overall view of the mass grave and (B) graphic illustration of the skeletal remains. The skeletons have been marked in individual colours. Ten skeletons were affected by the division of the block (photos: J. Lipták, O. Schröder).
Table 2.
Age distribution.
Table 3.
Results of the trauma analysis.
Number of cranial injuries listed by location, side, and type of injury.
Table 4.
Results of the trauma analysis.
Number of postcranial injuries listed by location, side, type of injury and bone elements affected.
Fig 3.
(A) Two healed injuries from blunt and sharp force to the frontal bone of individual 46. (B) Sharp force injury to the occipital bone of individual 23 with traces of healing. (C) The injury to the left forearm of individual 18 led to the radius and ulna fusing together (photos: A. Hörentrup).
Fig 4.
(A, B) The left tibia of individual 17 shows a healed fracture. (C) The fracture ends did not reunite correctly due to the clear malunion. However, the healed bone exhibits no evidence to suggest infection (photos: K. Bentele; radiograph: LDA Halle/Saale).
Fig 5.
Perimortem blunt force traumata.
(A) The oldest individual among the dead has fractures to the right zygomatic bone and the jawbone (indiv. 18). (B) The fracture to the right femur of individual 16 can be associated with a fall, whilst the comminuted fracture of the tibia was caused by a gunshot (photos: N. Nicklisch, J. Lipták). It is possible that the shot to the tibia provoked the fall and subsequent femur fracture.
Fig 6.
Perimortem sharp force injuries.
(A) The only severe cranial injury caused by a bladed weapon was identified on individual 9. (B) Injury 1 (cf. photo A) led to the complete detachment of the bone area. (C) A penetrating injury can be seen in the anterior area of the 10th thoracic vertebra of individual 13. (D) The quite inconspicuous cutting injury to the lateral condyle of the right femur of individual 7 may also have caused damage to the entheses and the popliteal artery. The latter would have resulted in severe blood loss (photos: K. Bentele, N. Nicklisch, J. Lipták).
Fig 7.
In situ documentation of a retained projectile.
(A) Individual 22 was struck above the right forehead (entry wound). (B) The projectile crossed the cranial cavity and led to a crush fracture to the right petrous bone region and mastoid process. (C) Upon exposing the fracture area, the lead ball (from a carbine or musket) became visible (arrow). In addition, the right oral cavity contained an unfired bullet (A, arrow) (photos: N. Nicklisch).
Fig 8.
Reconstructed cranial gunshot wounds.
(A) Exit wound on the left cranial vault (frontal/parietal bones) of individual 42. The entry wound can be localised on the right parietal bone. (B) Individual 35 was struck on the front cranial vault by a bullet entering at an obtuse angle (photos: N. Nicklisch).
Fig 9.
Documentation of a retained projectile upon removal of the skull.
(A, B) Individual 5 was struck in the left parietal/temporal bone by a lead bullet, which (E) lodged in the right occipital bone. (D) The projectile is a musket ball. Its severe deformation suggests that it ricocheted. (C) The position of the lead bullet could be documented by CT. (F) The density and scattered radiation of the lead made it possible to distinguish clearly between the bullet and the surrounding sediment (photos: K. Bentele, N. Nicklisch, S. Brandt).
Fig 10.
Bullets that can be associated with injuries to the postcranial skeleton.
Two soldiers were struck in the hip area by carbine bullets. The projectiles remained (A) in the left ilium (indiv. 2) and (B) in the right acetabulum (indiv. 46) (photos: A. Hörentrup).