Skeletal Trauma and Social Dynamics in Medieval Silves (Southern Portugal): Islamic Versus Christian Populations

ABSTRACT Skeletal trauma provides insight into both accidental injury and interpersonal violence, reflecting everyday risk and social dynamics. This study tests the hypothesis that trauma, particularly among males, was more prevalent in the Islamic population of Silves (9th–13th centuries) than in the subsequent Christian rule (13th century onwards), within a historically contested urban setting. A total of 133 individuals aged over 12 years of age were macroscopically examined. Twenty‐two individuals had 25 fractures. Fracture prevalence did not differ significantly between the Islamic (11.8%, 6/51) and Christian samples (19.5%, 16/82) (Pearson χ 2 ( p ) = 0.24). Among males, prevalence was lower in the Islamic sample (12%, 3/25) than in the Christian sample (27.9%, 12/43) but not significantly (Pearson χ 2 ( p ) = 0.12). No fractures were identified among Islamic females, whereas three Christian females presented traumatic lesions. This pattern aligns with broader trends observed in urban Iberian contexts and may reflect sex‐differentiated activities and risk exposure. Within the Christian sample, males showed a higher prevalence of trauma than females (27.9%, 12/43 vs. 10.7%, 3/28), although this difference did not reach statistical significance (Pearson χ 2 ( p ) = 0.08). Three individuals of indeterminate sex from the Islamic maqbara and two from the Christian necropolis also exhibited fractures. Most injuries were well healed and consistent with accidental mechanisms associated with daily or occupational activities. However, isolated nasal fractures and transverse ulnar shaft fractures may suggest episodes of interpersonal violence. The overall trauma frequency may be biased by small sample size and poor preservation and may also reflect medieval warfare strategies.