‘DNA and the Middle Ages: Genetics, History and Archaeology’
The Beehive, Newcastle
University
22 October 2004
Organiser: Dr Scott Ashley, School of Historical Studies
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Charlotte Roberts (Dept of Archaeology, University of Durham)
Title: ‘Beyond Just the Bones: the Potential and Limitations of Biomolecular Analysis to Explore Demography and Disease in the Medieval Period’
Abstract: The study of the demographic profile and health status of past Medieval populations using skeletal remains has had a long history. The focus remains on the collection of data from skeletons to assess the sex and age at death of the individual, their stature and health status. These data are then utilised to test hypotheses and answer questions about the Medieval past, and data is interpreted and explained with reference to artefactual, structural and ecological data that provide information about aspects of living such as the quality of housing, air quality, diet and economy, work patterns, climate. For the Medieval period we are also fortunate to have access to contemporary written documentation and artistic evidence to ‘flesh out the bones’, and the number of skeletons excavated and dated to the Medieval period are plentiful, thus providing large sample sizes.
More recently many researchers worldwide have started to analyse biomolecules preserved in bones and teeth to derive more detailed data on demography, health status, diet and movement of people. This has included, over the last 10 years or so, the extraction and analysis of ancient DNA in bones and teeth, when it was realised that it could survive long periods of burial. This paper aims to explore the use of biomolecular analysis the study of demography and health in the Medieval period, providing extant examples of work so far and potential and limitations.
