Reconstructing Christian lifeways : a bioarchaeological study of medieval inhabitants from Portmahomack, Scotland and Norton Priory, England
This thesis investigates lifeways of medieval Christian communities from Portmahomack, Northeast Scotland and Norton Priory, Northwest England, to ascertain the extent to which skeletal indicators of diet, disease or trauma reflect religious or social influences. Osteology and palaeopathology methods on human adult and sub-adult skeletons from Portmahomack (6th to 17th century) and Norton Priory (12th to 16th century) was undertaken to provide evidence relating to the four key themes proposed in this study: âbiological or familial affinityâ, âthe living environmentâ, âtrauma and conflictâ, and âdiet and nutrition-related stressesâ. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of bone collagen from adult humans from Portmahomack (including and a sub-sample of sub-adults) and Norton Priory were measured for dietary reconstructions. Faunal bone collagen was also analysed from Portmahomack and Norton Priory (plus a selection of fish bones from Chester Cathedral) to provide isotopic baselines to reconstruct human diets. The results suggest past lifeways of Christian communities from Portmahomack and Norton Priory can indeed be successfully reconstructed through bioarchaeology. The evidence from this
Curtis-Summers, Shirley
CC Archaeology
Reconstructing Christian lifeways : a bioarchaeological study of medieval inhabitants from Portmahomack, Scotland and Norton Priory, England. This thesis investigates lifeways of medieval Christian communities from Portmahomack, Northeast Scotland and Norton Priory, Northwest England, to ascertain the extent to which skeletal indicators of diet, disease or trauma reflect religious or social influences. Osteology and palaeopathology methods on human adult and sub-adult skeletons from Portmahomack (6th to 17th century) and Norton Priory (12th to 16th century) was undertaken to provide evidence relating to the four key themes proposed in this study: âbiological or familial affinityâ, âthe living environmentâ, âtrauma and conflictâ, and âdiet and nutrition-related stressesâ. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of bone collagen from adult humans from Portmahomack (including and a sub-sample of sub-adults) and Norton Priory were measured for dietary reconstructions. Faunal bone collagen was also analysed from Portmahomack and Norton Priory (plus a selection of fish bones from Chester Cathedral) to provide isotopic baselines to reconstruct human diets. The results suggest past lifeways of Christian communities from Portmahomack and Norton Priory can indeed be successfully reconstructed through bioarchaeology. The evidence from this
reconstructing christian lifeways bioarchaeological study medieval inhabitant scotland priory england investigates lifeways medieval christian_community northeast scotland priory northwest england ascertain extent skeletal indicator diet disease trauma reflect religious social influence palaeopathology method human adult sub adult_skeleton priory undertake provide_evidence relate four_key theme propose study biological familial affinity live environment trauma conflict diet nutrition related stress stable_carbon nitrogen_isotope analysis bone_collagen adult human include sub sample sub adults priory measure dietary reconstruction faunal bone_collagen also_analyse priory plus selection fish bone chester cathedral provide isotopic baseline reconstruct human_diet suggest past lifeways christian_community priory indeed successfully reconstruct bioarchaeology evidence