Solving a 17th-Century Crime
Forensic anthropologists at the National Museum of Natural History find answers to a colonial cold case
- By Joseph Caputo
- Smithsonian magazine, March 2009, Subscribe
The boy does not have a name, but he is not unknown. Smithsonian scientists reconstructed his story from a skeleton, found in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, buried underneath a layer of fireplace ash, bottle and ceramic fragments, and animal bones.
Resting on top of the rib cage was the milk pan used to dig the grave. "It's obviously some sort of clandestine burial," says Kari Bruwelheide, who studied the body. "We call it a colonial cold case."
Bruwelheide is an assistant to forensic anthropologist Douglas Owsley. After more than a decade of cases that span the centuries, the duo has curated "Written in Bone: Forensic Files of the 17th-Century Chesapeake," on view at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History through February 2011. The exhibit shows visitors how forensic anthropologists analyze bones and artifacts to crack historical mysteries. "The public thinks they know a lot about it, but their knowledge is based on shows like ‘Bones' and ‘CSI,' so they get a lot of misinformation," Owsley says. "This is an opportunity for us to show the real thing."
Take the boy in the clandestine grave. Since the 1990s, the Lost Towns Project in Annapolis, Maryland—which aims to rediscover settlements that have disappeared from the landscape—has conducted excavations in Anne Arundel County, a social and political hub in colonial Maryland. When intern Erin Cullen unearthed a skull in a 17th-century cellar, archaeologists at Lost Towns sought out Owsley.
He recognized that the skull belonged to a Caucasian male. Further analyses indicated the male was of European descent and 15 to 16 years old. The boy's spine and teeth were damaged from hard labor or disease. This profile fit that of an indentured servant in the Chesapeake Bay of the mid-17th century. During this time, young European men and women signed indenture contracts with Chesapeake planters, merchants and tradesmen. Typically, servants needed to work for at least four years to pay off the debt, but it was not uncommon for them to die during the harsh conditions of bondage.
Based on the artifacts surrounding the body—including a coin dated 1664 and a piece of window that has a date stamp of 1663—archaeologist Jane Cox determined that the boy had died between 1665 and 1675. That time frame corresponds to when laws were being passed against the private burial of indentured servants, to prevent owners from covering up instances of abuse. The boy's right wrist was fractured in a way that suggested he used his arm to block a strong blow shortly before his death. That injury, along with the awkward burial, points to a violent end. "They were burying him in secret so they would not have to report the death," Bruwelheide surmises.
For Owsley, reconstructing the lives of people whose skeletons he uncovers is the most important part of the job. "The story of these individuals is their legacy," he says.
Subscribe now for more of Smithsonian's coverage on history, science and nature.
Comments (129)
+ View All Comments
I agree with all the comments, but think about this if money had not been spent to research the death of this person then we would not have the joy of discussing this subject.I would like to know more about the place of the burial, it would have much to do with the death of the person. What if it was buried beside the house then it is probable that the death would not be to secret, but if it was buried in the woods mabe that means that the death would not be purposeful at all mabe the kid had fallen out of a tree and broken his wrist, but that would not explain the ashes or the glass. The coin and the animal bones could be some personal posetions the animal bones mabe a pet?
Posted by on April 12,2010 | 06:48 PM
As interesting as this bit of archaeology and forensics is, the comments here are just as fascinating. This article has brought out some white-racists, some black-nationalists, a fellow who is angry that his local police have not adequately to his satisfaction, investigated the murders of his two relatives, all sorts of revisionists, and at least an anarchist or two. The same event, that of some poor white European boy being murders in the 17th century has been interpreted here in the comments to argue against discussing slavery and race, as an argument against any and all governments (anti-"statism"), as a waste of time (since his relatives were murdered recently. I do not have the space to present the argument that anthropology and arcaheology are important and actually improve our lives in the present, or that this event, the killing and hiding of his burial, and the research done on this have nothing to do with any modern political agendas. The fact is, some people can be cruel, and exploitation of black or white or grey or yellow or any men or women is horrid, but, great care has to be taken in how to interpret events of the past.
The horror of chattel slavery still affects both black and white folk. Indenture, as horrid as it was for some people, was not as evil as chattel slavery. That is the essential difference between the two. With indenture, the labor was owned, with slavery in America, the man (or woman) was owned. All that being said, I am sorry that that fellow above lost his two family members to recent murders, but that has nothing to do with modern archaeology. Also, statism is not evil. The state serves certain functions. We must understand history to be complete human beings. And, we must not be revisionists.
Posted by Dr Yusuf Al-Kindi on October 4,2009 | 07:57 AM
For anyone looking for additional information on this case, there was also a Webcomic produced based on this story. The Webcomic has activities that can be completed online and at the end there is link to a more in-depth article on the case. The Webcomic is called "The Secret in the Cellar" - see http://anthropology.si.edu/writteninbone/comic/
Posted by Dan Bliton on May 23,2009 | 05:23 PM
Great work! My thought is, "Those who ignore history are destined to repeat it". While we have made much progress in the past 350 years, we still have a long way to go in overcoming our baser inclinations but we much keep trying.
Posted by Emma Molina on March 12,2009 | 02:43 PM
To add a post script to my earlier entry, I do not believe the coin and the other artifacts were deliberately left in the grave. Those were accidental, but at the same time they did give clues to time and circumstances to us here in this more enlightened century. No one at that time in history gave a thought to leaving clues at the scene of a crime. Sadly, this boy was buried, and was never thought of again. His family in Europe probably had no real hope of hearing from him once he left. Think about it - letters were sent by sea, and he may as well have been on another planet. His family probably prayed for him as long as they lived, but never had any real hopes of seeing or hearing from him again in this life. C. Hays
Posted by Carla Hays on March 12,2009 | 12:22 PM
I, too, found this article fascinating. Too few people have a love of learning about the past. What happened 350 years ago, to a young man who was most likely a servant, gives us a glimpse into how our country came in to existence. All the stories that we discover from diaries, or long-forgotten letters in attics, add to our knowledge bank, and offer hints of long-ago daily life. Look how our lives have changed in the past 50 years. Just think how our current customs and activities will interest those 100 years from now. The comments about how worthless this kind of research is trouble me on more than one level. The fact that we are "dumbing" down is so apparent from the horrendous typos and misspelled words in this comment thread alone. Reading and educating ourselves are our tickets to many places that are unattainable by physical means. Reading "Smithsonian" can take one to faraway lands, corners of our own country that we will never travel to, and yes, can even give us the opportunity to "time travel"! Keep up the good work, and keep those articles coming! C. Hays Southern Illinois
Posted by carla hays on March 12,2009 | 12:13 PM
To the people that think this excavation was a waste of time and resources, the is a famous quote - "He who does not learn from history is bound to repeat it". I think taking the time to learn where we came from good or bad is a lesson (also money and resources) well spent.
Posted by Seajay on March 11,2009 | 07:51 PM
History Detectives on PBS had a case similar to this 2 years ago. I think they said there were laws passed that one could not leave bodies of indenture servants in the streets. They had to be disposed of by people who they were working for. It is interesting that were enough bodies lay unclaimed that they had to pass a law. A sad part of history.
Posted by Randy on February 28,2009 | 12:35 PM
For ppl that think this is just a waste of time and money... if you, yourself, came across a skull in a sellar i believe you would feel a little differently about whether to "waste" the money looking into it or not... if a little media coverage came w. the deal, u got your name in the news paper, you surely would careless how old the case was. If you found a dead body, no matter how old, could you honestly say you would just turn around and walk away like you hadnt even seen it? I dont think so! everyone is curious! and it is far from a waste for the simple fact that you wouldnt know what you do today if it wasnt for scientist "wasting" government funds to find out information just like this. The Titanic was a very good example of how cases like this are not "wasting" money. I'm sure every bit of money spent by the scientists to uncover the remains of the Titanic were returned ten-fold to the economy in the first week that the movie Titanic was released. Some people should really have bigger hearts, a more open mind and think before they speak :)
Posted by Sam. on February 27,2009 | 02:35 AM
Narrow minds and lack of knowledge...that's sad. WHY WASTE $ ON THIS??? To gain knowledge. How could anyone be so narrow minded as to ASK such a thing or make such comments. You are probably unaware,and may not care,these same forensic scientists were on site after 9-11 at the Pentagon and helped identify the remains of my uncle as well as friends of our family. ALSO they "WASTED TIME AND RESOURCES" in Oklahoma City AND Waco.(do you remember?) They aquire knowledge on a daily basis that DOES go to help our world today. If not for their study of history,alot of our present and future would remain a mistery.Also, who said the master WAS responsible? We're talking about a time of new settlements in an unknown country. He may have been beaten by another indentured,killed by natives trying to reclaim what was taken from them or,heck,kicked by a horse that didn't want shoed. Point is,there are many so many possibilities of WHY he was buried in what WAS a custom for the time. Open your minds to others and gain knowledge...really,it doesn't hurt...much. ;}
Posted by Barb on February 27,2009 | 02:10 AM
Sad, but true many whom crossed the Atlantic suffered in many ways for a new chance in a new world. Debts that were not paid by ??? were sent to prison till ??? or were bought and still owed to the new owner. Africa did replace or supplemented the need of more than were allowing themselves to this arrangement which disgusting in thought was a necessary way to migrate to .America.It's just someone forgot to ask them & whom new the language of that particuliar tribe. Today African tribes still practice slavery as fueding tribes keep the spoils as did past cultures. Why ?? good question! Tibetians/ Chinese often in rurals moreso than urban sell their women as the man has more strength to allow the family to endure the hardships of their survival. The natives of this America were treated in the same manner! anyone read about " The trail of tears" We are civilised !! well, this story of this young teen is a disgrace to what was and really in manys ways still prevails. Good police work & follow that trail & maybe you can mark on the killers Grave also what he/she did to a child that did not get to finish his life naturally.
Posted by Robert S. on February 27,2009 | 01:40 AM
Why would they use a milk pan to dig the hole and then bury it with the body? If they didn't have a shovel why not use it to fill the hole?
Posted by Jon Z on February 27,2009 | 01:24 AM
Each to their own;(waste of money,time,and concern). But wouldn't it a better world if everyone cared a little more about life where we came from and where we are going to be in another hundred years? Sure it would be nice to find a cure to cancer, or stop hunger. BUT HELL that might have been your grand father's grand father who brutily KILLED that young man, and you don't want to know? And maybe that boy's siblings decendents still wonder what happened to him.
Posted by David L. on February 27,2009 | 01:12 AM
First, outstanding story and great historical evidence of life in early America. Second, I am amazed at the lack of knowledge in general by people today. The 17th century date definitely puts the protagonists over the 100 year period mentioned by Chris, and I seriously doubt the artifacts were buried with future crime scene detection in mind. Think about it; Do murderers plant evidence in burials today with a thought to the future, or could coins and such just be what the victim had in their possession? Archaeology (forensic and general) are great fields and are separate fields of study than Engineering, Economics or Agriculture Chris. Perhaps you should let the "smart people" work in their chosen profession while you return to school for a course in analytical reasoning.
Posted by Mark on February 27,2009 | 12:59 AM
+ View All Comments