Some Incan Dude A Victim Of Old World-On-New World Violence

The earliest known victim of gun violence in the Americas (that’s PC for ‘New World’) has been unearthed in a suburb outside of Lima, Peru; his remains date back to the 1530’s! Turns out the hole in his head is about the size of a Spanish musket ball, with traces of iron in his skull to back up the claim. One of the local researchers credited with the discovery–first name Guillermo–had this to say:

No similar evidence of a death by gunshot this early has been found elsewhere in the Americas, Dr. Cock said. The musket shot appeared to have entered the back of the man’s skull, punching a piece of bone from outside to inside, and emerged through the face.

Thanks, Dr. Willy Cock–are we the only ones who find this translation of his name funnier than it is infantile?–for confirming the centuries-old belief that people get shot in the head.

Earliest Gunshot Victim In New World Is Reported [NYTimes]
Image [Elena Goycochea / Puruchuco-Huaquerones Archaeological Project / National Geographic]