Archaeologists working at a medieval castle in Spain have identified the remains of a knight who lived—and likely fought in battle—despite suffering from a rare congenital condition that severely altered the shape of his skull.
The discovery, made at the castle of Zorita de los Canes in the central city of Guadalajara, centres on a man believed to have been a member of the Order of Calatrava, a powerful military–religious order in medieval Castile. The remains, dating between the 13th and 15th centuries, have now been studied by a research team led by scientists from the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV). Their research has been published in the journal Heritage.
A Remarkable Discovery
Zorita de los Canes – photo by Antonio Tajuelo / Wikimedia Commons
The skeleton was unearthed in the Corral de los Condes, a burial area associated with knights of the Order. While the burial initially appeared typical, one feature stood out immediately: an unusually long and narrow skull measuring 23 centimetres in length but only 12 centimetres in width.
Further analysis revealed that the individual suffered from craniosynostosis, a condition in which the bones of the skull fuse prematurely during childhood. In this case, several sutures—including the sagittal, squamosal, and sphenofrontal—had fused early, producing an extremely elongated skull. With a cranial index of just 53 percent, the skull falls into the rare category of ultradolichocephaly.
Despite this severe condition, the man lived to between 45 and 49 years of age—an unusual lifespan for someone with such a disorder in the Middle Ages. Evidence from his skeleton strongly suggests he was an active warrior.
Further analysis found physical stress markers consistent with a life of combat and horsemanship, leading the team to conclude he was probably a member of the Order of Calatrava. Muscle attachment points in the upper body indicate repeated use of the arms, while features of the femur point to frequent horse riding.
Founded in 1158, the Order of Calatrava played a key role in defending the Kingdom of Castile’s frontiers. Its members, drawn largely from the lower nobility, served as mounted warriors in conflicts across medieval Iberia.
Evidence of a Violent End
This image of the skull shows the upper (A), left lateral (B) and lower (C) views of the individual’s neurocranium. Photo credit Rissech, C., Creo, O., Revuelta, B., Cobo, S., Urbina, D., Urquijo, C., Banks, P., & Lloveras, L.
The skeleton also bears clear signs of a violent death. Researchers identified two penetrating injuries: one to the temple and another to the back of the skull, as well as a blunt force injury to the left tibia.
“These are very common injuries in the remains of medieval warriors killed in battle, and they are different from those found in individuals who died during sieges,” said Carme Rissech, a researcher at the URV and lead author of the study. “The former may be found in various parts of the body, whereas the latter usually only affect the skull. In the case of this individual, the injuries occurred when the bone was fresh and they show no signs of healing, which leads us to believe that they most likely caused his death.”
All of these wounds show no signs of healing and were inflicted when the bone was still fresh, indicating they occurred at or near the time of death.
Living with a Rare Condition
The man’s skull deformity would have affected his daily life. The jaw was narrow and elongated, and dental analysis shows striking asymmetry. On one side of the mouth, teeth exhibit heavy tartar buildup but little wear, while the other side shows more wear and fewer deposits.
The researchers suggest this may indicate he chewed primarily on one side, possibly due to discomfort or limited jaw mobility. “We can’t prove it, but we believe they may have been extracted to enable the man to eat,” Rissech adds.
To determine the cause of the condition, the team carried out a detailed differential diagnosis, ruling out a range of possible disorders—including nutritional diseases, environmental factors, and other genetic syndromes.
The most likely diagnosis is Crouzon syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes craniosynostosis but typically does not affect cognitive function or life expectancy. “In most cases, Crouzon syndrome does not involve serious cognitive impairments and does not affect life expectancy,” explains Rissech.
A Rare Case in Archaeology
Carme Rissech. Photo credit Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV)
For Rissech, the discovery stands out for its rarity: “It is the first time we have found a case like this; we have identified the remains of infants with this condition but we have never seen it in adults, and even less so in knights; it is something unique and exceptional”.
Craniosynostosis is estimated to occur in roughly one in 2,500 births today, but cases identified in archaeological contexts are rare—and almost always involve infants. Adult examples are extremely uncommon, making this find particularly significant.
The researchers caution that the diagnosis remains tentative. Without genetic testing—specifically analysis of genes such as FGFR2 and FGFR3—it is not possible to confirm the condition definitively.
The case offers a rare glimpse into how individuals with physical differences could live and function in medieval society. Far from being excluded, this man appears to have been fully integrated into a military order, riding, fighting, and ultimately dying in battle alongside his peers.
The article, “An Ultradolichocephaly in a Knight of the Order of Calatrava from the Castle of Zorita de los Canes (Guadalajara, Spain) Dated Between the 13th and 15th Centuries,” by Carme Rissech, Oscar Creo, Blanca Revuelta, Susana Cobo, Dionisio Urbina, Catalina Urquijo, Philip Banks and Lluís Lloveras, is published in Heritage. Click here to read it.
Top Photo: Courtesy Rissech, C.; Creo, O.; Revuelta, B.; Cobo, S.; Urbina, D.; Urquijo, C.; Banks, P.; Lloveras, L. An
Archaeologists working at a medieval castle in Spain have identified the remains of a knight who lived—and likely fought in battle—despite suffering from a rare congenital condition that severely altered the shape of his skull.
The discovery, made at the castle of Zorita de los Canes in the central city of Guadalajara, centres on a man believed to have been a member of the Order of Calatrava, a powerful military–religious order in medieval Castile. The remains, dating between the 13th and 15th centuries, have now been studied by a research team led by scientists from the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV). Their research has been published in the journal Heritage.
A Remarkable Discovery
The skeleton was unearthed in the Corral de los Condes, a burial area associated with knights of the Order. While the burial initially appeared typical, one feature stood out immediately: an unusually long and narrow skull measuring 23 centimetres in length but only 12 centimetres in width.
Further analysis revealed that the individual suffered from craniosynostosis, a condition in which the bones of the skull fuse prematurely during childhood. In this case, several sutures—including the sagittal, squamosal, and sphenofrontal—had fused early, producing an extremely elongated skull. With a cranial index of just 53 percent, the skull falls into the rare category of ultradolichocephaly.
Despite this severe condition, the man lived to between 45 and 49 years of age—an unusual lifespan for someone with such a disorder in the Middle Ages. Evidence from his skeleton strongly suggests he was an active warrior.
Further analysis found physical stress markers consistent with a life of combat and horsemanship, leading the team to conclude he was probably a member of the Order of Calatrava. Muscle attachment points in the upper body indicate repeated use of the arms, while features of the femur point to frequent horse riding.
Founded in 1158, the Order of Calatrava played a key role in defending the Kingdom of Castile’s frontiers. Its members, drawn largely from the lower nobility, served as mounted warriors in conflicts across medieval Iberia.
Evidence of a Violent End
The skeleton also bears clear signs of a violent death. Researchers identified two penetrating injuries: one to the temple and another to the back of the skull, as well as a blunt force injury to the left tibia.
“These are very common injuries in the remains of medieval warriors killed in battle, and they are different from those found in individuals who died during sieges,” said Carme Rissech, a researcher at the URV and lead author of the study. “The former may be found in various parts of the body, whereas the latter usually only affect the skull. In the case of this individual, the injuries occurred when the bone was fresh and they show no signs of healing, which leads us to believe that they most likely caused his death.”
All of these wounds show no signs of healing and were inflicted when the bone was still fresh, indicating they occurred at or near the time of death.
Living with a Rare Condition
The man’s skull deformity would have affected his daily life. The jaw was narrow and elongated, and dental analysis shows striking asymmetry. On one side of the mouth, teeth exhibit heavy tartar buildup but little wear, while the other side shows more wear and fewer deposits.
The researchers suggest this may indicate he chewed primarily on one side, possibly due to discomfort or limited jaw mobility. “We can’t prove it, but we believe they may have been extracted to enable the man to eat,” Rissech adds.
To determine the cause of the condition, the team carried out a detailed differential diagnosis, ruling out a range of possible disorders—including nutritional diseases, environmental factors, and other genetic syndromes.
The most likely diagnosis is Crouzon syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes craniosynostosis but typically does not affect cognitive function or life expectancy. “In most cases, Crouzon syndrome does not involve serious cognitive impairments and does not affect life expectancy,” explains Rissech.
A Rare Case in Archaeology
For Rissech, the discovery stands out for its rarity: “It is the first time we have found a case like this; we have identified the remains of infants with this condition but we have never seen it in adults, and even less so in knights; it is something unique and exceptional”.
Craniosynostosis is estimated to occur in roughly one in 2,500 births today, but cases identified in archaeological contexts are rare—and almost always involve infants. Adult examples are extremely uncommon, making this find particularly significant.
The researchers caution that the diagnosis remains tentative. Without genetic testing—specifically analysis of genes such as FGFR2 and FGFR3—it is not possible to confirm the condition definitively.
The case offers a rare glimpse into how individuals with physical differences could live and function in medieval society. Far from being excluded, this man appears to have been fully integrated into a military order, riding, fighting, and ultimately dying in battle alongside his peers.
The article, “An Ultradolichocephaly in a Knight of the Order of Calatrava from the Castle of Zorita de los Canes (Guadalajara, Spain) Dated Between the 13th and 15th Centuries,” by Carme Rissech, Oscar Creo, Blanca Revuelta, Susana Cobo, Dionisio Urbina, Catalina Urquijo, Philip Banks and Lluís Lloveras, is published in Heritage. Click here to read it.
Top Photo: Courtesy Rissech, C.; Creo, O.; Revuelta, B.; Cobo, S.; Urbina, D.; Urquijo, C.; Banks, P.; Lloveras, L. An
Subscribe to Medievalverse
Related Posts