This question is on the border of forensic and archaeological studies. It relates to pseudo-traumas on crania in coffins being exhumed from graves dug into sand. The coffin wood has decayed, but from what we see of the traces would not have penetrated the crania during collapse of the lids. The crania are generally well-preserved but have single "depressed fractures" on the cranial vault. The historical context does not lead us to believe that the individuals died violent deaths and we suspect other causes of these puzzling traumas. We are, of course, getting expert forensic advice and are looking for comparative examples in the archaeological arena. Can anyone out there suggest any? Richard Wright