Cole, G;
Ditchfield, PW;
Dulias, K;
Edwards, CJ;
Reynolds, A;
Waldron, T;
(2020)
Summary justice or the King's will? The first case of formal facial mutilation from Anglo-Saxon England.
Antiquity
, 94
(377)
pp. 1263-1277.
10.15184/aqy.2020.176.
Preview |
Text (Article)
Cole_ACCEPTED.pdf - Accepted Version Download (762kB) | Preview |
Preview |
Text (Supplementary material)
Cole_OSM_ACCEPTED.pdf - Accepted Version Download (480kB) | Preview |
Abstract
Intentional facial disfigurement is documented in archaeological contexts around the world. Here, the authors present the first archaeological evidence for intentional facial mutilation from Anglo-Saxon England—comprising the removal of the nose, upper lip and possible scalping—inflicted upon a young adult female. The injuries are consistent with documented punishments for female offenders. Although such mutilations do not appear in the written record until the tenth century AD, the instance reported here suggests that the practice may have emerged a century earlier. This case is examined in the context of a wider consideration of the motivations and significance of facial disfigurement in past societies.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Summary justice or the King's will? The first case of formal facial mutilation from Anglo-Saxon England |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.15184/aqy.2020.176 |
| Publisher version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2020.176 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | Anthropology, Archaeology, Britain, Anglo-Saxon, palaeopathology, facial mutilation, law codes, AMPUTATION, RECONSTRUCTION, RHINOPLASTY, EMPHASIS, HISTORY, NOSE, CUT |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > Institute of Archaeology UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > Institute of Archaeology > Institute of Archaeology Gordon Square |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10116180 |
Archive Staff Only
 |
View Item |
