title: A historical case of beaten-copper cranium.
abstract: The authors present the oldest historical case of a so-called beaten-copper cranium. The typical pattern was identified on a skull from a child, probably a boy, who died at approximately 6 years of age and was buried in a provisional cemetery used during the siege of Hanau, Germany, in 1635 and 1636. Morphological and radiological analyses of the severe digitate impressions ubiquitous on the child's endocranium support the diagnosis of chronically elevated intracranial pressure due to hydrocephalus.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Frank J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Rühli
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nicklisch
authors.forename: Kurt W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Alt
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005858:Germany; D049670:History, 17th Century; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000266:history*; D008297:Male; D009027:Mortuary Practice / Q000266:history*; D012886:Skull / Q000473:pathology*; D013217:Starvation / Q000266:history*; D014857:Warfare