Violent human death in the past: a case from the Western Cape

The discovery and analysis of two human skeletons from the southwestern Cap e of South Africa are described. Buried together at Melkbosstrand about 250 0 years ago, they are people from the period of hunting and gathering known as the Later Stone Age. A juvenile and a middle-aged woman, both show sign s of having died from violent blows delivered to their heads. Each skull sh ows evidence of piercing and slash-type blows. The structure of a gash on t he juvenile's skull is consistent with the use of a flaked stone tool. This discovery serves as a reminder that violent death is neither a recent phen omenon nor exclusive to the stresses of modern society.