Head injuries by firearms and sharp weapons in the Battle of San Martino (1859, Italy)

The research was focused on the study of weapon-related traumas in the skeletal remains of the soldiers who died in the Battle of San Martino (Italy, 1859). These remains are housed in the monumental ossuary of San Martino. The examination of 817 skulls revealed traces of injuries in 90 skulls, selected and submitted to anthropological studies. The aim of this work was to study the head injuries attributable to firearms and blade weapons in relation to the armaments and the military tactics used in that period. The shape, size, and features of the wounds were macroscopically examined to characterize the lesions. As regards the ballistic traumas, the caliber, the trajectory of the projectiles, and the kind of artillery were based on the diameter and localization of the entry and of the exit holes in the skulls. The sharp force traumas were identified as linear-edge cuts or pointed lesions. The results evidenced different types of perimortem injuries, principally caused by firearms (79%) with projectiles of different calibers, mostly ranging between 14 and 18 mm. Sharp force injuries probably caused by bayonets and sabers had affected 17.8% of the skulls. The remnant 2.2% of the examined skulls presented only antemortem lesions. Moreover, seven other skulls showed healed lesions, in some cases surgically treated, testifying a rather intense war period, and the capacity of the soldiers to survive even severe injuries. The higher prevalence of gunshot wounds with respect to sharp force traumas is consistent with the military tactics and with the weapons used in that period: hand-to-hand combat was restricted and bayonet assault was unsuccessful compared to the use of efficient ranged weapons. This research presents important information on war-related traumas, ballistic wounds and sharp force injuries of the armaments, and the military tactics of the mid-19th century.