William Hewson (1739-1774) and the Craven Street anatomy school : anatomical teaching in the 18th century
In 1998 a small excavation, covering less than a cubic meter, was carried out in the basement of Benjamin Franklin house, 36 Craven Street, London. The finds revealed over 3500 dissected human and animal skeletal remains and a number of artefacts (incl. glass, microscopic slides and tubes, ceramics and metal). The finds were linked to the Craven Street anatomy school (1772-1778), founded by anatomist William Hewson. The tight time frame predating the anatomy act of 1832 and the association with a single well documented figure, allows for an unparalleled insight into the organisation of a private anatomy school through archaeological and historical records. It is a rare opportunity to place archaeological findings within a framework wherein it is possible to distinguish individual motivation and action and how these relate to broader tendencies in society. The recent surge in archaeological excavations of anatomy school has enabled Craven Street to be placed into a wider context comparing private anatomy schools to hospital anatomy schools. Patterns of procurement, use and disposal of human and animal remains shed light on the organisation of the school and its social and economic status in society, allowing
Kausmally, T.
William Hewson (1739-1774) and the Craven Street anatomy school : anatomical teaching in the 18th century. In 1998 a small excavation, covering less than a cubic meter, was carried out in the basement of Benjamin Franklin house, 36 Craven Street, London. The finds revealed over 3500 dissected human and animal skeletal remains and a number of artefacts (incl. glass, microscopic slides and tubes, ceramics and metal). The finds were linked to the Craven Street anatomy school (1772-1778), founded by anatomist William Hewson. The tight time frame predating the anatomy act of 1832 and the association with a single well documented figure, allows for an unparalleled insight into the organisation of a private anatomy school through archaeological and historical records. It is a rare opportunity to place archaeological findings within a framework wherein it is possible to distinguish individual motivation and action and how these relate to broader tendencies in society. The recent surge in archaeological excavations of anatomy school has enabled Craven Street to be placed into a wider context comparing private anatomy schools to hospital anatomy schools. Patterns of procurement, use and disposal of human and animal remains shed light on the organisation of the school and its social and economic status in society, allowing
william street anatomy school anatomical teaching small excavation cover less carry benjamin house street london find reveal human_animal skeletal_remain number artefact glass microscopic ceramic metal find link street anatomy school found william tight time_frame predate anatomy act association single well_documented figure allow unparalleled insight organisation private anatomy school archaeological_historical record rare_opportunity place archaeological_finding within_framework wherein possible distinguish individual motivation action relate broader tendency society recent surge archaeological_excavation anatomy school enable street place wide_context compare private anatomy school hospital anatomy school patterns procurement use disposal human_animal remain shed_light organisation school social_economic status society allow