"We definitely didn't expect to find any skeletons": Medieval male "suffered greatly" with two broken legs, arthritis and bone infection
This article originally appeared on Culture24.
An unfortunate medieval man suffered broken legs, osteo-arthritis and osteomyelitis, say archaeologists surprised at skeletal discoveries
Two skeletons were uncovered at Halton Castle, in Runcorn, in July© Norton Priory Museum TrustThe broken bones caused the man to suffer a strand of osteo-arthritis similar to the affliction many people suffer today, according to experts who discovered animal bones, pottery, clay pipes, musket balls, glass and coins near the Augustinian Norton Priory.
Sarah Cattell, the lead archaeologist on the excavation from the University of Salford Applied Archaeology Unit, also found a medieval jeton denomination which could originate from Germany.
“We now know that the male individual suffered greatly in his life as a result of substantial breaks to both his lower legs,” says Claire Broadhurst, of the Priory Museum and Gardens.
“It caused further distress by bringing on both osteo-arthritis and osteomyelitis – an infection of the bone, causing a rather unpleasant effect on the tissue surrounding it.
“Sarah has identified parts of the site that now raise further questions, such as the large post-holes that could hint to earlier structures, if not multiple phases of medieval settlement.
"We definitely didn’t expect to find any skeletons. Our experts are at a loss to explain why two burials would be found in this context at the moment.
“The confirmed dates of the skeletons will hopefully be obtained sometime over the next few months – at which time we will know a new, rather important bit of information about the Halton Castle skeletons. Hopefully they will shed more light on the various theories.
“The natural bedrock revealed archaeological features, including a trio of large post-holes and a drainage channel. There was also large sandstone debris, possibly from a collapsed wall."
Two postgraduate students from Liverpool John Moores University, Carla Burrell and Eleanor Dove, carried out the analysis. Around 100 people took part in the dig from July onwards, with hundreds of visitors and schoolchildren taking part in excavations and special events.
A new museum will open at the priory in August 2016.
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