Skeletal trauma in infants and young children is rarely observed in archaeological populations, particularly injuries that could be associated with a difficult birth or physical abuse. To differentiate such cases from accidental injuries, the type, location and distribution of skeletal trauma need to be considered, and modern clinical cases consulted for diagnosis. This presentation will discuss a case of suspected birth-related injury (a fractured left clavicle) observed in skeletal remains of an infant from a Late Meroitic (late 1st to 4th centuries AD) cemetery at Korti, in present-day Sudan. The skeletal remains of the infant (5-7 months old) were examined both macroscopically and radiographically for evidence of trauma. Based on that examination, it could be concluded that the injury sustained by the infant was likely birth-related.

08 - Accidental trauma or birth-related injury: A case study from a Late Meroitic cemetery at Korti, Sudan