Health and well-being: the contribution of the study of human remains to understanding the late medieval period in Britain

Roberts, CA; Redfern, R; Bekvalac, J

Abstract

This chapter outlines the contributions bioarchaeology has made to understanding health and well-being in the late medieval period in Britain. Some of the history of the study of medieval bodies is followed by a commentary on the evidence base used to consider health and disease, integrated with contextual data, and the limitations of the data. This is followed by a focus on the largest excavated and well-studied cemetery site globally, to date (St Mary Spital, London). It also discusses the bioarchaeological field, including training and standards, advances in analytical techniques (biomolecular), the need for context in studies, and future developments.

Citation

Roberts, C., Redfern, R., & Bekvalac, J. (2018). Health and well-being: the contribution of the study of human remains to understanding the late medieval period in Britain. In C. Gerrard, & A. Gutiérrez (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Later Medieval Archaeology in Britain (819-836). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198744719.013.53

• Online Publication Date: Jan 18, 2018
• Publication Date: 2018-01
• Deposit Date: Jul 4, 2018
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Pages: 819-836
• Series Title: Oxford Handbooks
• Edition: 1st ed.
• Book Title: The Oxford Handbook of Later Medieval Archaeology in Britain.
• Chapter Number: 51
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198744719.013.53