First Gunshot Victim in the New World | National Geographic

archaeologists in Peru have discovered

archaeologists in Peru have discovered the nearly 500 year old skeleton of a

the nearly 500 year old skeleton of a

the nearly 500 year old skeleton of a man who died in a surprisingly modern

man who died in a surprisingly modern

man who died in a surprisingly modern way from a gunshot wound to the head a

way from a gunshot wound to the head a

way from a gunshot wound to the head a team of experts believes the man is the

team of experts believes the man is the

team of experts believes the man is the first documented victim of a shooting in

first documented victim of a shooting in

first documented victim of a shooting in the New World the skeleton was uncovered

the New World the skeleton was uncovered

the New World the skeleton was uncovered by a team of archaeologists headed by

by a team of archaeologists headed by

by a team of archaeologists headed by Guillermo a National Geographic

Guillermo a National Geographic

Guillermo a National Geographic Society grantee who began excavating

Society grantee who began excavating

Society grantee who began excavating this ancient Inca cemetery in 2004 the

this ancient Inca cemetery in 2004 the

this ancient Inca cemetery in 2004 the Inca once ruled the entire Andes region

Inca once ruled the entire Andes region

Inca once ruled the entire Andes region until they were conquered by the Spanish

until they were conquered by the Spanish

until they were conquered by the Spanish in the 1530s the scientists realized the

in the 1530s the scientists realized the

in the 1530s the scientists realized the cemetery was unusual when they found

cemetery was unusual when they found

cemetery was unusual when they found bodies buried in unexpected ways it was

bodies buried in unexpected ways it was

bodies buried in unexpected ways it was evident that they didn’t follow the

evident that they didn’t follow the

evident that they didn’t follow the variant which they were without not the

variant which they were without not the

variant which they were without not the proper offerings now the question is why

proper offerings now the question is why

proper offerings now the question is why these individuals have been buried in

these individuals have been buried in

these individuals have been buried in such an unusual with many of the bones

such an unusual with many of the bones

such an unusual with many of the bones revealed fractures puncture wounds and

revealed fractures puncture wounds and

revealed fractures puncture wounds and signs of violent death one skull stood

signs of violent death one skull stood

signs of violent death one skull stood out marked with what appeared to be the

out marked with what appeared to be the

out marked with what appeared to be the entrance wound from a musket ball what’s

entrance wound from a musket ball what’s

entrance wound from a musket ball what’s especially exceptional about this is not

especially exceptional about this is not

especially exceptional about this is not only that we have in fact the entrance

only that we have in fact the entrance

only that we have in fact the entrance wound but also that I recovered the plug

wound but also that I recovered the plug

wound but also that I recovered the plug bone that actually was in this position

bone that actually was in this position

bone that actually was in this position on the inside of skull to test their

on the inside of skull to test their

on the inside of skull to test their theory the team x-ray the skull

theory the team x-ray the skull

theory the team x-ray the skull searching for the metal fragments a

searching for the metal fragments a

searching for the metal fragments a musket ball would leave behind when the

musket ball would leave behind when the

musket ball would leave behind when the x-ray came up negative the scientist

x-ray came up negative the scientist

x-ray came up negative the scientist turned to a more sensitive tool a

turned to a more sensitive tool a

turned to a more sensitive tool a scanning electron microscope hit pay

scanning electron microscope hit pay

scanning electron microscope hit pay dirt revealing bits of iron embedded in

dirt revealing bits of iron embedded in

dirt revealing bits of iron embedded in the bone

it appeared that as the musket ball

it appeared that as the musket ball punched into the back of the skull and

punched into the back of the skull and

punched into the back of the skull and passed through the head it left iron

passed through the head it left iron

passed through the head it left iron fragments deep inside the bone which

fragments deep inside the bone which

fragments deep inside the bone which stayed there for some 500 years

stayed there for some 500 years

stayed there for some 500 years Guillermo believes the wound and

Guillermo believes the wound and

Guillermo believes the wound and the hastily buried bodies in the

the hastily buried bodies in the

the hastily buried bodies in the cemetery point to one conclusion the

cemetery point to one conclusion the

cemetery point to one conclusion the victim was killed by a Spanish

victim was killed by a Spanish

victim was killed by a Spanish conquistador wielding a primitive gun

conquistador wielding a primitive gun

conquistador wielding a primitive gun called an arquebus the inca battled the

called an arquebus the inca battled the

called an arquebus the inca battled the spanish outside lima in 1536 near the

spanish outside lima in 1536 near the

spanish outside lima in 1536 near the site of the graveyard believes that

site of the graveyard believes that

site of the graveyard believes that the bodies buried there are the first

the bodies buried there are the first

the bodies buried there are the first ever forensic remains from the battles

ever forensic remains from the battles

ever forensic remains from the battles of Spanish conquest