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MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2002

Researchers who examined thousands of Native American bones found a 50 percent increase in traumatic injuries after the arrival of Columbus.

Of 3,375 pre-Columbian Native remains, 11 percent showed injuries, researchers said. This jumped to 17 percent among 1,165 post-Columbian bones, an increase called "significant statistically."

The increase was observed among male remains examined. Female bones did not show a similar jump.

The research was conducted by Philip L. Walker, an anthropology professor at the University of California at Santa Barbara, and Richard H. Steckel of Ohio State University. Findings were presented annual meeting of American Association of Physical Anthropologists last week.

Get the Story:
Bones Reveal Some Truth in 'Noble Savage Myth' (The Washington Post 4/15)

Read Study Abstract:
A Western Hemisphere Perspective on the History of Violence (P. L. Walker, R. Steckel April 2002)

Relevant Links:
American Association of Physical Anthropologists - http://www.physanth.org