Analysis of trauma and tumor on skeletons excavated from Van Castle Mound (2010-2012)

The skeletal remains, which constitute the material of this thesis, were obtained from the Van Castle Mound excavations carried out between 2010 and 2012. The Van Castle Mound extends in the east-west direction in the form of a low ridge just outside the Van Castle, which exists within the borders of the province of Van. Its average width is 70 m. and its length is 1 m. The highest part of this mound is its western end. At this point the height exceeds 7 m. Excavations on the mound started in 2010 under the direction of Erkan Konyar within the scope of the Van-Tuşpa Project. The mound is divided into layers as "A", "B" and "C" layers. During the excavation of "A" layer, the skeletons, which are the material of this study, were excavated from the cemetery. The skeletons were dated between the Middle Ages and the Modern Ages by looking at the tomb types of Level A. The mound area has been inhabited by people of two religious beliefs for years. The aim of the study is to examine the presence of trauma and tumor in the Medieval and Modern Age Society of Van Castle and to compare it with antique Anatolian societies. In the mound society, 377 individuals were examined paleopathologically, trauma and tumor analyzes were made and information about the life style of the society was tried to be obtained. Traumas observed in the Van Castle Mound Society were analyzed under three sub-headings as Cranial, Post - Cranial and Cultural skull deformation. The incidence of cranial traumas in the community is 8.91 %, and the incidence of post-cranial traumas is 4.83 %. The incidence of skull deformation is 8.6 %. In the Van Castle Mound Society, tumors are examined under two sub-headings as benign and malignant. Known as benign tumors in the community: button osteoma, osteochondroma, fibros cortical defect and dermoid cyst have been observed. The incidence of button osteoma in the community is 2.64 %. Malignant tumors were not found. Traumas in society have been observed in all age groups, mostly in adult males. Observation of skull deformation in children and adults of all age groups suggests that this is a cultural behavior. It has been observed that the trauma observed in the society is caused by situations such as falling or hitting due to daily life style. No traumas related to war and violence were encountered in the society. Keywords: Van Castle Mound, Trauma, Tumor, Medieval and Modern Age.