Analisi antropologiche sul cranio di frate Pietro da Verona

The anthropological analysis performed on the skull that tradition ascribes to Friar Peter of Verona stands out as one of the rare cases in which it is possible to apply a typically forensic methodology to a past context. The available information about his life became the ante mortem data to compare with the post mortem data obtained from the remains. A very good concordance emerged and the most striking aspect is the analy- sis of the signs of violence. The neurocranium had the signs of at least 4 slash blows inflicted near death and their morphology is consistent with that of the sickle-shaped weapon cited by the sources. The brain injuries led Peter to death, although it is possible that he had a few moments to make some last gestures.