Introduction – Field Methods & Findings – Forensics
Archaeology (cont...)
|
Forensics
An important result of the 1999 excavation is that the existence of a mass burial pit has been confirmed. The position of the individuals in the burial pit is such that they cannot be considered to have had a ‘normal’ Christian burial. The circumstances of their burial strongly suggest that the victims were buried in haste and without ceremony.
Apart from the cracked skull and displaced tooth of SK6, no positive evidence of violence was found among the five skeletons. It can be concluded, with the possible exception of SK6, that these individuals were unlikely to have died from blows with heavy instruments, sharp or blunt. The possibility remains, however, that these victims were killed in ways that leave little if any trace on the skeletal remains.
There are several descriptions of deaths, killings and burials in historical accounts, the main source being Pelsaert’s journal. A recent study of the historical accounts indicated many individual and group murders occurred on and near Beacon Island, as well as deaths from drowning and sickness (although many of the sick were murdered before meeting natural deaths). Two main mass burials are described in the journals, although other mass deaths could have gone unreported in the slaughter.
One mass burial included the Predicant’s family on July 21st: his wife and six children were beaten to death, their maid stabbed, another female had her throat cut, and another man was battered to death. An earlier mass killing occurred on July 10 or July 12 when Passchier van den Enden (gunner), Jacob Hendricxsz (carpenter) and a sick boy were killed as well as English soldier Jan Pinten.
The age profile and fact that, like the carpenter, SK7 probably limped in life, convincingly suggests that the 3 adults and 1 youth in the mass grave are those of van den Enden, Hendricxsz, Pinten and the cabin boy.
The child (SK9) and infant (SK12) could have died of natural causes or been among those murdered in early days. Clearly the infant was born on voyage, and may be one of those described as suckling: for example, Maijken Cardoes was described as having a suckling child who was strangled on July 20th 1629 (the day before the murder of the Predicant’s family).
The grave would have been more shallow than today - as the surface has been built up in the historic era - perhaps covered with less than 20 cm of sand. The infant SK12 would appear to have been the first in the grave. Some were buried with clothing, despite reports that clothes were retained by the murderers, and some everyday items, such as thimbles and jewellery - possibly in their clothes - were also interred.
Experts in Craneofacial Reconstruction have recreated an image showing the possible appearance of the man who died in this grave.
|
Introduction – Field Methods & Findings – Forensics
