Archaeologists have recently revealed horrifying evidence of medieval cruelty in Milan: the skeleton of a young man between the ages of 17 and 20, with the unmistakable signs of one of the most brutal implementation methods in history.
The remains, dating from the 13th century, revealed a moving story etched in the bones – a story of deliberate, methodical torture that ended in a failed performance.
The discovery, detailed in a study Published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, was made by scientists from the University of Milan. The team, which Cristina Cattaneo and Mirko Mattia included, found symmetrical fractures in the limbs of the victim consistent with the use of a “wheel of torture”, also known as a Catherine wheel, a device that is designed to systematically crush the bones of the body.
The wheel was a favorite instrument of implementation in Europe from antiquity to the Middle Ages, often used against those accused of particularly serious crimes. Victims were usually bound by a wheel and their limbs were smashed with heavy instruments.
The broken limbs were then woven into the spokes of the wheel, which was then lifted up, so that the convicted person died slowly of their injuries. In some cases the torture lasted days, with the victim exposed to the elements and scavengers.
Further research by Milan’s skeleton unveiled Extra injuries: a deep break at the base of the skull, probably caused by a violent blow during an awkward attempted beheading. This suggests that the executioners, perhaps in an attempt to end the victim’s suffering, have inflicted her one last, fatal blow, albeit not very accurate.
Interestingly, the young man had physical abnormalities, including short stature and skull abnormalities, so that he can stand out in society.
In times of plague and social unrest, such differences often led to people being accused of spreading diseases or witchcraft. Researchers speculate that social discrimination may have played a role in its horrible fate, which reflects the dark side of medieval justice.
The discovery represents the first archaeological proof of execution on the wheel in the medieval North oficalia
