A New Model for Identifying and Interpreting Evidence for Child Abuse and Neglect in the Archaeological Record

A model for identifying and discussing evidence for child abuse and neglect in the osteoarchaeological record is developed and applied using an illustrative example. The model draws on osteoarchaeological and clinical-forensic paediatric sources and is calibrated against rigourous levels of proof. The child-centric perspective references their lived experience, while the inclusion of archaeological data and historical information facilitates inferences regarding the emotional and socio-cultural context of abuse and neglect. An example from Medieval Aberdeen is specifically selected to demonstrate how the model is employed, including potential issues with incomplete sets of remains and diagnostic uncertainty. The case study demonstrates how substantial evidence, in the context of child abuse, can be accrued, integrated, and interpreted for an individual child. The rigour and reproducibility of the model will permit the accumulation of individuals’ experiences across time, place, and socio-cultural context, bridging statistical population-based bioarchaeological analyses and individual osteobiographies.